FREEPRESS

WWW. C H A M P I O N N E WS PA P E R .C OM • FR ID AY, A PR IL 2 9 , 2 0 11 • VOL. 1 4 , N O. 5 • FR EE

• A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS •

Actress with local roots performing in Shrek The Musical

by Gale Horton Gay
Sandra DeNise wants
those considering seeing
Shrek The Musical to know
it’s a love story that delivers
a powerful message.
DeNise should know.
She plays the role of the
Sugar Plum Fairy as well as
a myriad of other ensemble
parts. She’s also the under-
study for the character Fiona.
“I like to tell people it’s
not only a love story be-
Sandra DeNise tween Shrek and Fiona, it’s
really a love story about self
love,” said DeNise. “Even
though you are different, you
are special. And it’s the dif-
ferences that are beautiful.
That’s a very important mes-
sage these days, especially
for kids.”
For DeNise, who was
born in Atlanta and grew up
in Decatur, the stop at the
Fox Theatre (running April
26 through May 1) of the
touring production of Shrek
The Musical brings her
home.
This is her third time on
the Fox Theatre stage. She
performed there during the
touring productions of Rent
and Parade. Both times she
said she had an emotional
experience, acting at a venue
where she saw some of her
first theatrical shows.
DeNise, the daughter
of Derry and Delores De-
Nise, attended The Paideia
School in Atlanta, where she
performed in musicals and
was a member of the Mad-
rigals choir. She received
early guidance from Nancy
Oliver, children’s choir di-
rector at Peachtree Christian
Church, and Rand Hopkins,
a local playwright who gave
her parts in his plays. Her
summers were spent at the
Atlanta Workshop Players
Performing Arts Camp.
After high school, De-
Nise studied at New York
University’s Tisch School of
the Arts. While there, she
was cast in A Chorus Line,
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
and Kiss of the Spider Wom-
See Sandra on Page 15A

East Lake Farmers Market

grows in more ways than one

Market customers warm themselves with a cup of hot coffee under the tent.

Around 10 farmers displayed their goods at the

East Lake Farmers Market for their “Farm to
Garden” event. Photos by Daniel Beauregard

by Daniel Beauregard
daniel@dekalbchamp.com

T
he rain didn’t seem to stop
anyone from venturing out to the
corner of Hosea Williams Drive
and 2nd Avenue on March 26, to
attend the East Lake Farmers Market’s
“Farm to Garden” event.
The market opened a little earlier than
usual this year to kick off the season and
celebrate its new status as a non-profit.
“We just got word this spring that the
IRS has granted us the tax-exempt status
as a 501(c)(3) charity,” said Doug Wil-
liams, founder of the East Lake Farmers
Market.
Williams explained that last year they
decided to expand the market to some-
thing more than just a place for residents
to gather and buy food on the weekends.
“[We wanted] to try and affect the
greater health of the community in a
more literal sense because we started
looking at the health statistics for DeKalb
County and realized that our immediate
area has the highest degree of heart rate
morbidity and diabetes morbidity, which
means, literally, our neighbors are killing
themselves with what they eat,” Williams
said.
The market’s main goal is to help
shape how it serves the community.
Since its beginning in 2009 the market
has been something that mostly attracted
urban professionals. However, with some
help from Georgia Organics, a non-profit
organization that promotes locally grown
food, it’s hoping to broaden its scope
and reach families that could not afford
organic food.
See ELF on Page 15A A customer looks over kale, lettuce and other greens.
neWs
Catholics and
immigrants walk
50-mile pilgrimage
by Daniel Beauregard
daniel@dekalbchamp.com
The third annual Holy
Week Pilgrimage for Im-
migrants, a 50-mile jour-
ney, was held April 17-22
and covered areas of north
Georgia and metro Atlanta
to help raise awareness
about immigration. Not
everyone walked 50 miles,
some just walked for a day,
but that didn’t make their
message any less meaning-
ful.
Organizer P.J. Edwards
was quick to point out,
however, that it was an act
of solidarity rather than a
protest. Held during the
Catholic Holy Week, the
pilgrimage gave both im-
migrants and Americans a
chance to come together,
show their support for each
other and reflect in prayer.
“This is really an act of
solidarity and reconcilia-
tion and that’s really what
Lent is about. Part of this
event is to really take Jesus
seriously when he said,
‘Love thy neighbor,’” Ed-
wards said.
One of the problems
a lot of churches have
is bringing the English-
speaking community
together with the non-
English speaking commu-
nity, and Edwards said this
has been a great way to do
that.
“Over the course of the
week more than a thousand
people will turn out typi-
cally,” Edwards said.
The pilgrimage also
gave people a chance to
voice their concerns about
the recent passing of the
controversial immigra-
tion reform bill HB 87 that
Gov. Nathan Deal said he
will sign.
“If this bill becomes
law, it will make it ille-
gal for me as a Christian
or anyone else to take an
[undocumented] person to
a hospital, school, grocery
store or even to church,”
said Edwards. “It should
not be necessary for Chris-
tians to choose whether
to follow the laws of this
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 Page 2A
state or the ‘law’ of the
Gospel.”
Anton Flores-Maison-
et, co-founder of Alterna,
an immigrant-serving min-
istry in LaGrange, walked
the entire 50 miles. Flores
said that for him the bill
posed many problems.
“We’ve actually sent Immigrants and Americans gathered in the parking lot of Plaza Fiesta and sang songs and prayed be-
a letter to Gov. Deal and fore beginning their pilgimage walk to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb.
asked to meet with him
and pray and say, ‘Try to
look at this bill through a
lens of what’s moral and
just,’” Flores said.
Many, like Flores, said
that legislation similar to
HB 87 instills fear and
makes an already alien-
ated population even more
afraid to come out of their
homes and get involved in
the community.
“If every law enforce-
ment individual is empow-
ered to detain individuals
for immigration it makes
them vulnerable to crimi-
nalization; this will make
a population that’s already
vulnerable to victimiza-
tion even more vulnerable
and less likely to report
[crime],” Flores said.
A woman signs a cross that was held at the front of the procession during the third annual Holy Week
Although reservations Pilgrimage for Immigrants. Photos by Daniel Beauregard
about the bill were defi-
nitely present, the pilgrim-
age remained a happier
one focused on prayer and
community, with many rel-
ishing the chance to come
together and celebrate
Holy Week.
Nancy Sestak, chair
of the social justice com-
mittee at the Immaculate
Heart of Mary Catholic
Church in DeKalb, orga-
nized one of the walks
from Plaza Fiesta to her
church. She said that there
is a large Spanish speaking
community at their church
because of its location.
“We just strive to be a
community of welcoming
people and welcome the
stranger among us, particu-
larly during Holy Week;
this is a sacred week for
us Catholics and this is
an outward demonstration
for us to say that we’re
welcoming of all people,”
Sestak said.
www.championnewspaper.com The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 Page 3A

DeKalb cities discuss Sunday alcohol sales

by Daniel Beauregard Marc Johnson, who is also that but it’s certainly something business’s choice whether it would
daniel@dekalbchamp.com police chief, said that the vote in that…the city commission [thinks] sell alcohol on Sunday.
November will show the council the voters should determine,” “It comes down to the business
With the recent passage of the where residents lie on the issue. Merriss said. owners’ [discretion]; the package
Sunday alcohol sales bill through “It passed unanimously,” Lithonia Mayor Tonya Peterson stores or wine stores… they can
the legislature, several cities in Johnson said about the vote to said that it will be brought up at the make the decision whether or not
DeKalb County are deciding adopt the referendum. “I wouldn’t city council’s next meeting but she they want to open their doors on
whether to let their voters decide the venture a guess on any election but was unsure whether it will make it Sunday.
issue in November. I would be kind of surprised if [the to the ballot. “We’ll see what happens, if the
The bill, SB 10, which passed referendum] didn’t pass,” Johnson Clai Brown, city manager of board passes it then it will be up to
its final hurdle in the House on said. Avondale Estates, said that he the voters,” Brown said.
April 12 with a vote of 127-44, The City of Decatur is also brought it to the council’s attention Stone Mountain City Manager
will allow the residents of each expected to vote on it in the near and the vote is on the agenda for the Barry Amos explained that there
county or municipality in the state future and the city commission council’s next meeting. were very few businesses that
to approve Sunday alcohol sales by has recommended that the vote be “I can tell you in the work would be affected by the law and,
referendum. brought up at a council meeting. session they were all in favor, but for this reason, the council had not
Gov. Nathan Deal has yet to “The city commission has things could change,” Brown said. yet discussed Sunday alcohol sales.
sign the bill but has said publicly asked staff to review the enabling Brown said that he still wasn’t He said he didn’t think that it would
that, although he wasn’t in favor legislation and to make a sure about the likelihood of it come up anytime in the near future.
of Sunday sales, he believed that recommendation to have it come passing if it made it to the ballot “At this point mayor and council
voters should decide the issue and up [in a board meeting] and put in November but he had talked to have had no discussion about
he would sign it if it came across his a referendum on the November several business owners who were Sunday sales and I don’t anticipate
desk. ballot,” said Decatur City Manager in favor of the measure. anything happening,” Amos said.
Before the referendum makes its Peggy Merriss. “I’ve talked to a few business “We do have Sunday alcohol by
way to the November ballot, it must Merriss said although she can’t owners and they want to see it the drink on the weekends and we
first be approved by the city council. speculate on whether she thinks it happen and I’ve talked to several only have two or three convenience
The Chamblee City Council has would pass if put on the ballot, the residents and they want to see it stores in the area so it’s not a very
already voted unanimously to put city commissioners think that voters happen,” Brown said. large part of our economy.”
the referendum on the November have a right to make the choice. Brown said that if it did pass,
ballot and Interim City Manager “I never speculate on things like it would still ultimately be a
OPINION The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 Page 4A

The debacle in the DeKalb
County clerk’s office reminds me of
an Old Testament story in the oft-
referenced book of Esther. People in
the Jewish faith last month celebrat-
ed the holiday Purim. It is perhaps
the faith’s most festive observance
with huge family feasts, dancing and
stomping of feet in jubilation.
Purim observes the liberation of
Jewish people from destruction in
the ancient Persian empire. It also
celebrates the death of the evil Ha-
man who was hanged on the very
The Newslady
Ditch diggers, beware
gallows he ordered built for the con-
vivial Mordecai, Esther’s guardian.
The lesson is that one risks falling
into the same ditch one digs for an-
other, just as Haman swung from the
gallows he built for Mordecai.
Now, cut to the Superior Court
clerk mess, which leaves you shak-
ing your head and saying in the ver-
nacular of my cultural elders past,
“Lord have mercy!” What on earth is
going on in DeKalb County?
By way of background, Linda
Carter, the Superior Court clerk of
10 years tenure, abruptly resigned
last month. She allegedly sent a letter
to Gov. Deal citing personal reasons
and named her Deputy Clerk Debra
DeBerry as her replacement. OK,
people resign from office for per-
sonal reasons, but rarely do office
holders name their replacement, an
interim perhaps, but not a replace-
ment. That’s usually left to the gov-
ernor’s discretion.
Now comes Clerk Carter suing
to get her job back claiming that
Deputy DeBerry fraudulently con-
spired to have her sign resignation
papers that she, Carter, didn’t know
she was signing because of her tem-
porary dementia! Lord have mercy!
Carter reportedly didn’t know she
had resigned until her husband asked
her about it.
When all this first surfaced
through the street committee and
rumor mill, it was dismissed without
the usual closer investigation be-
cause it was seemingly so ludicrous
it could not be true. Imagine the
surprise when word came that Carter
had filed a lawsuit in the matter.
One judge has already recused
himself and because of the nature of
the relationships between the clerk
and the courts. Others might do so as
well. There are a couple new people
on the bench who might hear the
case who perhaps have not devel-
oped a long-standing relationship
with the two women involved.
A word of caution and a remind-
er. If the facts of the case confirm
Carter’s claims, everyone involved
should beware of the ditch they dug
for someone else lest they fall into
that very ditch. Perhaps not today
or tomorrow, but the big Judge has
recorded the deeds and will repay in
like kind in ways we cannot begin
to fathom. Remember Haman, the
hangman who swung from the gal-
lows he built for an innocent man.
Finally, someone very wise once
said, “Read everything before you
sign it; leave nothing to chance and
inspect everything.”
Steen Miles, The Newslady, is a
retired journalist and former Georgia
state senator. Contact Steen Milies at
Steen@dekalbchamp.com.

Revolving prison doors

by Judge Greg Mathis
If you, like me, believe that
prisons should be able to punish of-
fenders while still preparing them
for a productive, crime free life
once they are released,
then you must also believe
that prisons are failing.
And they’re not just fail-
ing: they are costing the
larger society billions of
dollars that could be put to
much better use.
Annual prison spend-
ing has risen from $10 Mathis
billion to $52 billion over
the past 30 years. Recent data from
the Pew Center on the States shows
that the additional money is clearly
not going to prisoner rehabilitation
efforts. More than 40 percent of
inmates eventually return to prison,
most of them within three years.
The recidivism rate hasn’t changed
much in a decade and is a strong
sign that prisons aren’t doing the
best job they can to prepare offend-
ers for life outside of prison.
States around the country are
grappling with fiscal uncertainty
and are forced to cut programs that
serve the poor and elderly to bal-
ance their budgets. These tactics,
however, do not take into consid-
eration the needs of the people, nor
do they protect the long-term finan-
cial health of the state.
What does? Investing in educa-
tion. Many, if not the majority, of
prison inmates did not graduate
high school. By catching students
before they fall through the cracks
and reducing the number of drop-
outs will, over time, reduce the pris-
on population and save the states
money. Sending low-level drug of-
fenders to rehab instead
of prison will also help.
It’s less expensive to re-
habilitate an addict than
it is to incarcerate them.
Going this route allows
states to help those who
need it and reduce their
prison costs at the same
time.
Critics would say
that this approach is soft on crime.
No one is saying that criminals
should not be punished. It’s just
more beneficial to everyone in-
volved if we punish them smartly.
To be fair, this strategy is not
going to save money overnight. The
goal is to create a plan that is sus-
tainable, one that will bring huge
returns over the long term. Reduc-
ing prison costs by reducing incar-
ceration rates saves money so gov-
ernments don’t have to cut services
like Medicaid and Medicare that the
most vulnerable in our communities
rely upon.
Judge Greg Mathis currently
provides legal advice to more than
three million listeners on the Steve
Harvey Morning Show and also on
his website, www.askjudgemathis.
com.
www.championnewspaper.com The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 Page 5A

One Man’s Opinion

Second life and second chances
The Salvation Army
Thrift Store, also nearby
and significantly improved
from what you might re-
member a decade ago,
benefits the great work of
that organization too, but
Second Life is in many
ways more “community-
“Just about the time you based” both in terms of
think you can make both the donations that receives
ends meet, somebody and the area friends and
moves the ends,” Pansy neighbors helping to col-
Penner, The Reader’s Di- lect, sort, clean and label
gest the merchandise, as well
as support area animal
A divorce in 1995, and causes.
the financial turmoil that “Our goal is to eventu-
followed introduced me to ally donate up to 80 per-
the wonders of thrift stores cent of our net proceeds
and garage sales. Al- to animal rescue charities
though years have passed in the Atlanta area, but
and financial circumstanc- we will need the commu-
es have improved, I still nity’s support to get there.
find myself drawn to the Our initial beneficiaries
roadside garage sale, and are Lifeline Animal Proj-
almost magnetized by the ect, Friends of DeKalb
lure of thrift and consign- Animals, Royal Potcake
ment shops. Rescue and Ahimsa
God has smiled upon House,” said Mahrous,
me as I now live in the re- Second Life’s co-founder.
sale retail heaven/haven Like the nearby
of Scottdale and Avondale Avondale Antiques, or the sands of pets have simply serves as chief political 750. Contact Bill Crane
Estates. Within a short Finders Keepers Consign- been dropped off for eu- analyst and commenta- at Bill@dekalbchamp.
drive, or even a moderate ments trifecta already thanasia by families who tor for 11Alive News and com.
walk from my home, there well-established in the can no longer afford them. WSB Radio, News/Talk
are more than a dozen community, Second Life Second Life will take
consignment, thrift, an- offers gently worn and your business, your vol-
tique and clearance outlet used clothing, books, unteer time and your do-
stores. Any rainy or slow house wares and even nations. You will find an
day usually causes me to orderly store, with a wide

FREEPRESS
home electronics, most
drop in on at least one. likely simply replaced array of merchandise, dis-
My current favorite by newer models in the played in a manner consis-
supports a worthy cause, homes of the neighbor- tent with many of the big
has a warm and engaging ing affluent communities box retailers. But as you
back story, and is worth are giving this merchan- Let Us Know What You Think!
of Avondale and Decatur.
a second look if your More than a few items in dise a second look, also THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS encourages opinions
travels frequently take know that your purchase from its readers. Please write to us and express your
inventory still have their views. Letters should be brief, typewritten and contain
you through Avondale, or original price tags. And will have immediate as the writer’s name, address and telephone number for
down College Avenue to their prices are almost too well as lasting benefits for verification. All letters will be considered for publication.
Covington Highway. It’s good to be true. the lesser of God’s crea- Send Letters To Editor, The Champion Free Press, P. O. Box 1347,
called Second Life—Up- This recession has tures in our community. Decatur, GA 30031-1347; Send E-Mail to Kathy@dekalbchamp.com
scale Re-sale. Toby To- made “thrift” a bit more Plenty of free park- FAX To: (404) 370-3903 Phone: (404) 373-7779
Deadline for news releases and advertising: Thursday, one week prior
bias and Tanya Mahrous, desirable trait, and has ing also allows you to use to publication date.
their 16-year-old Dalma- brought in customers who Second Life as home base. EDITOR’S NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributing
tian named Lucky, and a might not have previously You can go on a stroll up editors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor or publishers.
growing cadre of volun- even considered “re-sale” Avondale Road and Col- The Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement at
teers run one of DeKalb’s merchandise. However lege Avenue to make an any time. The Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.

larger re-sale shops in most families own at least afternoon or morning of

what was originally a one used car, and the ma- your shopping for the An-
grocery store in the heart tiques Road Show or sim- Publisher: Dr. Earl D. Glenn
jority of homes have had
of the Avondale village. more than one owner, so ply that quaint little item Managing Editor: Kathy Mitchell
Their work and sales ben- this concept should not be or book that you didn’t News Editor: Robert Naddra
efit a wide array of animal altogether new to anyone. even know that you need- Production Manager: Kemesha Hunt
life causes, including the And giving this merchan- ed, without the guilt of Graphic Designer: Travis Hudgons
nearby Lifeline No-Kill dise a second chance very paying $5 to valet at Nei-
Animal Shelter. likely means a stray cat, man’s and drop $100 in a
It is perhaps more than dog or ailing/lost house matter of minutes nearby The Champion Free Press is published each
a coincidence that Lucky, pet may now also have a at a mall. Tell Lucky I
the operations C.S.O., said hi. Friday by ACE III Communications, Inc.,
second chance at a longer,
Chief Smiles Officer, can healthier life. This down- 114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030
look out the store’s front turn in the economy has                                                                                     Phone (404) 373-7779.
door at the Avondale Fire been particularly unkind to Bill Crane is a DeKalb
House, another appropri- animals, as a wide variety County native and busi- www.championnewspaper.com
ate home for loving Dal- of animal causes can attest ness owner, living in Scott-
matians. that hundreds if not thou- dale, Georgia. He also DISPLAY ADVERTISING (404) 373-7779 x 110
Page 6A
Finally, Obama leads
on the deficit
In 1993, President Bill Clinton and a Democratic Congress
raised taxes and lowered the deficit, at which point the
economy took off and produced a budget surplus for the final
four years of his presidency.
Republicans have
criticized President
Barack Obama for his
“failure to lead,” par-
ticularly when it comes
to shrinking the budget
deficit.
Well, the other day he
led. He offered up a long-
term plan for controlling
the deficit while protect-
ing programs that the poor
and elderly depend on.
Did any Republican
follow? Not a one. They
accused Obama of shal-
lowness, disingenuous-
ness, and (get the children
out of the room) partisan-
ship.
Wow. A president of
the United States being
partisan. Imagine that.
I can see why the Re-
publicans were so upset.
They’re such gentle, kind,
cooperative people whose
first instinct is to compro-
mise. Always.
Not.
President Obama gave
us a reasonable and ratio-
nal–if overly general–ap-
proach to trimming the
deficit down to size in the
foreseeable future. The
Republican leaders hated
it for two reasons:
It raised taxes on the
rich, both the filthy vari-
ety and the merely well-
to-do.
It cut military spend-
ing by more than a token
amount.
If there are two things
that Republicans can’t
abide, it’s seeing rich
people pay taxes while
defense contractors go on
a diet.
They know what
causes budget deficits.
Poor people cause them
by sucking up public
funds with their cries
for undeserved food and
shelter. Public employees
cause them with their
“Cadillac health care
plans.” Children cause
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011
by Donald Kaul
Columnist
them by going to public
schools where they are
(sometimes) given expen-
sive books. Old people
cause them because they
get sick a lot and take a
long time dying, often at
public expense.
Republicans want a
budget plan that will put
a stop to all that. They
want a plan like the one
the chairman of the House
Budget Committee, Rep.
Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), con-
cocted.
Above all, they want
a plan that does not raise
taxes on their rich corpo-
rate sponsors, which the
Ryan plan does not. His
plan does suggest “clos-
ing loopholes” to pay for
lower tax rates–as does
Obama’s plan. (I wish I
had a buck for every time
I’ve heard a politician
promise to close loop-
holes. I’d be able to af-
ford my own loophole by
now.)
Ryan’s plan is non-
sense. He doesn’t give the
military budget so much
as a haircut. According
to the Center for Budget
and Policy Priorities, his
spending cuts over the
next 10 years would fall
mainly on low-income
people, who have been
losing altitude for years.
Obama had Ryan’s
plan right when he said:
“There’s nothing se-
rious about a plan that
claims to reduce the
deficit by spending a tril-
lion dollars on tax cuts
for millionaires and bil-
lionaires. There’s nothing
courageous about asking
for sacrifice from those
who can least afford it
and don’t have any clout
on Capitol Hill.”
Republicans claim that
raising taxes on the rich
will kill the economy. The
evidence is otherwise.
In 1993, President Bill
Clinton and a Democratic
Congress raised taxes and
lowered the deficit. The
economy took off and
produced a budget surplus
for the final four years of
his presidency.
Enter George W. Bush
with his tax cuts for the
rich, pointless wars and
the unpaid-for prescrip-
tion drug benefit. The
budget descended into the
red again and hasn’t re-
covered yet.
Where’s the prosper-
ity Bush II promised us
with the cuts? Where are
the jobs those rich people
were supposed to create?
For that matter,
where’s the magic his
deregulation of financial
markets was supposed to
produce?
None of it happened,
unless you think a near-
meltdown of the economy
is magical.
Republicans ignore all
this–as well as most evi-
dence, be it scientific or
historical.
They would have you
believe that two years
after being thrown out on
their ears for their incom-
petence, they deserve an-
other chance. And all they
offer is the same thing
again.
If the American people
fall for that scam, they de-
serve what they get.
On second thought, I
do have a problem with
Obama’s partisanship
in his quest to tame the
deficit. It isn’t partisan
enough.
OtherWords columnist
Donald Kaul lives in Ann
Arbor, Michigan. www.
otherwords.org
www.championnewspaper.com
The following comments are pulled straight from our website and
are not edited for content or grammar.
Legislature passes police millage bill
finally we have support for law enforcement. Wil-
liam come on bro we need your help, so we can
help you
–bob posted this on 4/24/11 at 3:33 p.m.
Before you go writing a letter to Governor Deal,
William, I encourage you to fully understand the
issue.
This law would allow the commissioners (but
not even mandate them to) create a separate line
in your property tax bill for police services, which
you already pay for. This would mean that com-
missioners would have to explicitly cut funds from
the police services budget, instead of just including
police services in countywide cuts.
That’s good in the same way that the property
assessment freeze forces commissioners to raise
the millage rate, rather than rely on over-inflated
increases in home values by the tax assessor’s
office.
As Jeff Wiggs said in the article, it doesn’t mean
commissioners will actually increase funding for
police services, and based on the commission-
ers’ past behavior, I don’t have high hopes for this
move to immediately solve the budget problem as
far as police services go, but it is a good step in
the right direction.
In case you’re not aware, morale in the police
department is low. The list of grievances is too long
for me to list right now, but you should know that
the fire department already has this same line-item
status, and if you are in favor of protecting fire and
police from budget cuts as much as possible, then
you should actually suppport this legislation.
– Jay posted this on 4/23/11 at 11:27 p.m.
My wife and I are on Social Security only, and a
property Tax will not do any good for us. this will be
a Tax forever!! I will write the Governor and EX-
PRESS that he doesn’t sign this to go in affect. Ask
yourself, do other county’s have a Tax for this???
– William posted this on 4/22/11 at 7:42 a.m.
www.championnewspaper.com
Lithonia takes green pledge
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
The mayor of Lithonia
wants living green to be
a way of life in the south
DeKalb city.
I’m taking a pledge to
take the first steps to go
green beginning at city hall
and challenging business
owners to do it as well,”
Mayor Tonya Peterson
said.
During a ceremony on
April 22, Peterson encour-
aged residents to take a
basic step toward sustain-
ability by taking the “Going
The Green Mile” (GTGM)
Gov. Deal signs bill to reduce DeKalb School Board
by Daniel Beauregard
daniel@dekalbchamp.com
Gov. Nathan Deal signed
a bill on April 20 that will
shrink the DeKalb County
School Board from nine to
seven members in 2013 if it
receives approval from the
U.S. Justice Department.
Since the bill deals with
the issue of replacing elected
officials, under the Voting
Rights Act it needs to be ap-
proved by the U.S. Justice
Department before going into
effect.
If approved, the bill will
allow the governor to remove
pledge and challenge.
GTGM is a grassroots com-
munity engagement cam-
paign designed to encour-
age the public to reduce its
carbon footprint.
“This is a simple, long-
term commitment,” Peter-
son said. “Are you being a
good steward?”
In the Lithonia city hall,
workers are being encour-
aged to turn off lights, low-
er thermostats and recycle
items that can be recycled,
Peterson said.
According to its web-
site, GTGM promotes “an
inclusive economy where
poor and underserved com-
the members of any board
that is facing loss of accredi-
tation and require that every
school board have no more
than seven members by 2013.
The bill was originally
proposed by Sen. Earl “Bud-
dy” Carter (R-District 1) to
lengthen the term of school
board members in Chatham
County, Savannah, from two
to four years.
As it made its way
through the House and the
Senate several amendments
were tacked onto the bill.
“The part for DeKalb
County was proposed by Sen.
Fran Millar (R-District 40)
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011
munities partake in the
social, environmental and
financial benefits of a green
economy.”
“We advocate inclusion
of all communities,” said
Charles Walker Jr., chair-
man of the Atlanta-based
Green Economy Diversity
Initiative, which is the of-
ficial licensee of GTGM.
“It’s our goal to educate
people about the simplicity
of going green.”
Lithonia is the first com-
munity in the country to
take the GTGM pledge.
“Our aim is to brick the
green divide,” Walker said.
and [the part for] Atlanta was
proposed by Rep. Edward
Lindsey (R-Atlanta),” Carter
said.
Both DeKalb and At-
lanta have had their share
of troubles over the past
several years and the bill is
seen mainly as a safety net to
deal with the Atlanta Public
School System’s possible loss
of accreditation.
DeKalb and Atlanta are
among 13 districts in the state
with more than seven board
members and are the only
ones in metro Atlanta that
have more than seven.
Page 7A
Champion of the Week
Tracy Dyson
who are disadvantaged
and impoverished
and who have been
subjected to bullying,”
Dyson said. “That’s
why I’m so passionate
about the Build-A-Youth
program. Those kids
need care and they
need attention.
“What’s important
is that we provide a
centralized program to
get them back on the
road to fulfilling their
potential,” he said.
Dyson has studied
Working with the meditation, quantum
Decatur-based Build- mechanics and
A-Youth program was metaphysics for more
a natural fit for Cobb than 15 years. He uses
County resident Tracy a “go green” approach
Dyson. to meditation to help
Founder of Tracy train individuals to
Quantum LLC, Dyson is enhance their overall
a motivational speaker well-being and to
and life coach who increase productivity
helps businesses and while reducing stress
and anger.
individuals through
meditation techniques. “Youth play a pivotal
role in today’s global
Dyson found out
about Build-A-Youth emerging market,”
Dyson said. “Each
through his radio show
“Meditations with Tracy youth possesses talent,
creativity and brilliance,
Dyson.”
Dyson for the past which need to be
engendered through
six months has been
a national spokesman positive reinforcement
of the mind. It’s vital
for the program, which
trains young adults, that we allocate the
ages 16 to 24, who proper resources to
are from low-income infuse our youth with
or disadvantaged unyielding success and
backgrounds to be self- empowerment.”
sufficient. The program, Dyson also has
which is sponsored by done volunteer work
the National Coalition with military veterans
of Women of Color in in DeKalb County and
Construction, is geared other parts or Atlanta.
toward youth interested He uses meditation
in construction techniques to help
technology, applied veterans cope with
science or multimedia post-traumatic stress
careers. disorder and traumatic
“We deal with youth brain injuries.
If you would like to nominate someone to
be considered as a future Champion of the
Week, please contact Kathy Mitchell at
kathy@DeKalbchamp.com or at
404-373-7779, ext. 104.
Page 8A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 www.championnewspaper.com

Chinese Culture Center to host 100th anniversary events for Taiwan

Jan. 1, 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary
of the formation of the Republic of China (ROC),
otherwise known as the country of Taiwan. As
part of the year-long celebration, the Taiwanese
government has organized committees through-
out the world to help promote events leading up
to the actual anniversary date.
Many of the Atlanta–area events will be held
in DeKalb County at the Chinese Cultural Cen-
ter, 5377 New Peachtree Road, Atlanta. The
Atlanta ROC Centennial Celebration Committee
is headed by DeKalb residents Marisa Lee of
Dunwoody and Jerome Yeh of Atlanta.
Upcoming events that are open to the public
include the Dragon Boat Festival scheduled for
June 4, table tennis and bridge competitions in
July; an exhibition of paintings, calligraphy and
photography will be displayed from Sept. 24 un-
til Oct. 5, a Chinese Goodwill Mission celebra-
tion on Sept. 24, a cultural and food festival on
Oct. 8 and 9, and the ROC 100th anniversary flag
raising ceremony on the morning of Oct. 9. An-
niversary events will culminate with the Double
Ten National Day celebration on Oct. 10.
“The ROC not only survived Communist
shelling, diplomatic suppression and missile
threats, but it also evolved from an agricultural
economy to an industrial powerhouse, according
to a statement. The country has established itself
as a full-fledged democracy with a pluralistic and
open society. The ROC has always had a strong
relationship with the United States and has be-
come a strong trading partner with them through-
out the years. It also supported and fought with
the United States during World War II.”
All ROC centennial activities will be based on
the theme “Republic for a Century-Democratic
New Taiwan,” and will involve three main seg-
ments: the past “Let Academia Interpret History,”
the present “Let the World See Taiwan,” and the
future “Let Taiwan Behold the Future.”

NEWS BRIEFS
Free driving instruction
program offered at Stone
Mountain Park
A free driving instruction
program for young drivers will
be offered April 30 and May 1
at Stone Mountain Park. The
Driver’s Edge program offers
classroom and behind-the-wheel
defensive driving instruction
on skid control, evasive lane
change maneuvers, anti-lock
braking skills and panic-braking
techniques. There are also written
tests before and after students
get behind the wheel. Local
law enforcement will provide
impaired driving awareness and
seat belt safety instruction. There
also is a session on proper car
maintenance.
There are two sessions each
day: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., and
1-5:30 p.m. To participate in the
Driver’s Edge program, drivers
must be 15 to 21 years old, and
have a valid learner’s permit
or driver’s license. Participants
must register in advance at www.
driversedge.org.
Anti-bullying rally slated
for April 30
Youth Connections, which
provides mentoring to children
whose family members are
incarcerated, will hold an anti-
bullying rally on April 30 in
Stone Mountain. Since 2006,
Youth Connections’ programs have
provided more than 500 youth from
13 counties with mentors. The event
will take place at Youth Connections
headquarters at 4151 Memorial
Drive, Suite 208F, Decatur.
Green Fest coming to
downtown Decatur
The third annual Green Fest is
scheduled for Saturday, May 7,
in downtown Decatur. The event
features samplings of local organic
produce and beer, a showcase of
equal exchange and other fairly
traded products, art that features
recycled materials, live music and
a play area for children. Green
Fest, which runs 3-9:30 p.m.,
benefits the Dogwood Alliance,
which is celebrating its 15th year
of preserving Southern forests and
promoting sustainable forestry.
‘Who Let the Dogs Out’
benefits DeKalb Police
Alliance
The DeKalb Police Alliance
(DPA) and North DeKalb Mall
present “Who Let the Dogs Out” on
Saturday, May 14, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
at North DeKalb Mall. Attendees
are invited to bring their dogs for
many pet-friendly activities while
getting to know local police officers
and what they’re doing to keep
DeKalb County residents (and pets)
safe.
There will be contests such as
“Best Costume” and “Best Tail
Wag,” and pet portraits. Pet-related
vendors will be on hand to answer
questions and offer advice on pet
care.
The event coincides with
National Police Week, May 15-
21. The DeKalb Police Alliance
will host a Public Safety Day
showcasing DeKalb area police
departments, provide public safety
information and raise awareness
about the efforts made by DeKalb’s
officers. There will be photo
opportunities in police cars and
prisoner vans, and search and
rescue demonstrations by DeKalb
County Police K-9 units. Also, food
and beverages will be available.
All proceeds generated by the
pet-related vendors will benefit
the nonprofit DPA, which provides
a $100,000 life insurance policy
for all full-time sworn officers
in DeKalb County and the
municipalities.
For information on “Who
Let the Dogs Out” or becoming
a member of the DeKalb
Police Alliance, visit www.
DeKalbPoliceAlliance.org.
More than 1,500 old tires
removed at cleanup
Residents in the East Atlanta
section of DeKalb County took
part in a cleanup on April 16 and
removed 1,675 old tires from
brushy areas and vacant lots.
People from the communities of
Kirkwood, Eastlake, Edgewood,
Reynoldstown and East Atlanta
participated.
Refugee aid agency to
hold open house
The Atlanta International Rescue
Committee will hold an open house
April 28 at its new location at 2305
Parklake Drive, Suite 100, near
Northlake Mall. The organization
aids refugees starting their lives
in the Atlanta area after arriving
from refugee camps in war-torn
countries.
Refugees from Burma, Bhutan,
Iran, Congo and Sudan will
describe their experience fleeing
war zones and persecution, living in
refugee camps and other makeshift
settings. They will also reflect on
the opportunity they were given to
come to the United States and start
their lives anew, along with the
challenges and the triumphs they
have encountered since coming
here, from learning a new language
and culture, to finding their first job,
to enrolling their children in school,
and applying for U.S. citizenship.
Executive director Ellen Beattie,
along with IRC caseworkers,
educators and employment
specialists will discuss their work,
from the first stages of resettlement
to providing refugees with the vital
support they need to become self
sufficient – including employment
assistance, healthcare access,
English language classes and
immigration services.
The open house will be 4:30-
7:30 p.m.
www.championnewspaper.com
Water woes cost $1 million in legal fees
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
Before a penny is spent
on repairing DeKalb Coun-
ty’s aging watershed in-
frastructure, more than $1
million has already been
spent on legal fees for the
pending consent decree.
Add to that amount
$35,000 for a commu-
nications campaign and
$453,000 to be paid for the
environmental fine, and the
before-repair costs exceed
$1.53 million.
As of April 11, the
county had been billed
$1,048,250.54, by Trout-
man Sanders LLP, an inter-
national law firm hired by
DeKalb County to handle
its legal negotiations with
the United States Environ-
mental Protection Agency
and the Georgia Environ-
mental Protection Divi-
sion. All but the March
invoice of nearly $20,000
had been paid.
“It is not uncommon for
us to employ outside coun-
cil,” said DeKalb’s Chief
Communication’s Officer
Burke Brennan. “We had
an issue with the EPA and
they [Troutman Sanders]
helped to negotiate the
best outcome for DeKalb
County.”
For their work associ-
ated with the EPA consent
decree, Troutman Sanders
partners’ billed $350 per
hour and associates are
capped at $260 per hour,
Brennan said.
In December, the EPA
announced it had negotiat-
ed a proposed consent de-
cree with DeKalb in which
the county agreed to the
targeted cleanup of streams
and major long-term im-
provements to its sanitary
sewer systems.
The decree states that
the county “does not admit
any liability to the United
States or the state arising
out of the transactions or
CHRIST
THE
REDEEMER
ANGLICAN CHURCH
Serving Conyers, Covington, McDonough & Stockbridge
1500 Klondike Road, Suite A105, Conyers
ChristTheRedeemerChurch.org
occurrences alleged in the
Complaint.”
Instead the county “rec-
ognizes that its WCTS
[wastewater collection
and transmission system]
would benefit from addi-
tional assessments and re-
habilitation of priority ar-
eas and from assessments
conducted systemwide on
an ongoing basis.”
DeKalb County also
agreed to pay a $453,000
penalty for excessive sew-
age spills. The proposed
consent agreement came
after a joint federal and
state complaint was filed
Sundays at
9:00 a.m.
404.317.0038
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011
against the county for vio-
lations of the Clean Water
Act and the Georgia Water
Quality Control Act.
Brennan said county of-
ficials are pleased with the
work of Troutman Sanders
Safe Digging Is No Accident: Always Call 811 Before You Dig
One FREE, easy call gets your utility lines marked
AND helps protect you from injury and expense.
on the consent decree.
According to a state-
ment from Brennan, Trout-
man Sanders was engaged
by a letter dated February
2009 to negotiate with the
EPA and EPD over terms
for the proposed consent
decree.
“The firm was selected
based on a combination of
hourly rate, overall envi-
ronmental experience and
qualifications, and prior
work with and knowledge
of DeKalb County Depart-
ment of Watershed Man-
agement,” according to
the statement. Troutman
Sanders handles various
environmental issues for
the county.
“Troutman Sanders’
involvement with the
EPA consent decree likely
will not end until the de-
cree is satisfied, though
the amount of their work
should decrease dramati-
cally,” according to the
statement.
The county’s strategy
was to make sure the EPA
focused on the specific
problems with the sewage
spills, Commissioner Jeff
Rader said.
“We are not skimping
on compliance,” Rader
said. Instead, the county is
trying to ensure “less of a
burden on oversight.”
Other municipalities
that did not actively nego-
tiate with the EPA on their
consent decrees have had
to deal with significant
bureaucratic overhead and
have paid dramatically
more in legal fees, Rader
CALL 811
BEFORE YOU
DIG
In Georgia, it’s the law.
www.Georgia811.com
Page 9A
said.
Doug Denton, vice
president of the South
River Watershed Alliance
(SRWA), does not be-
lieve the best interests of
residents are served by the
proposed consent decree.
The SRWA filed a motion
on April 7 to intervene as
a plaintiff in the proposed
consent decree.
“While it is true that
DeKalb County, GAEPD
and USEPA agreed upon
the consent decree, I can-
not accept, after reviewing
said document, that citi-
zens’ health and general
welfare was the primary
focus of settlement discus-
sions,” Denton said.
“Equally repugnant
is the dollar amount ex-
pended of public funds on
a document which does
not outline assurances to
DeKalb families that their
neighborhoods creeks and
rivers will be free of harm-
ful pollutants,” Denton
said.
In addition to hiring a
law firm for the consent
decree, the county paid
$35,000 for a four-month
contract to help manage
the communications cam-
paign about the decree
and coming water and the
sewer rate hike.
Clayton MBA in
Rockdale
rockdale.clayton.edu/mba/
Classes start in May!
 Page 10A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 www.championnewspaper.com

Students receive makeovers, mentoring, meal

by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com

Freedom Middle School sixth-grader

Jasmine Lawrence was glad to receive a
complimentary hairdo three days before
Easter.
“I needed a new hairstyle anyway,”
Lawrence said. “My mom just took
down my braids yesterday.”
Lawrence was one of approximately
30 male and female students who re-
ceived grooming and hygiene tips, one-
on-one mentoring and either a shampoo
and style or barbering services.
The services were given to reward the
students’ diligence and ability to continu-
ously overcome obstacles while continu-
ing to maintain above average grades,
said DeKalb County Commissioner Stan
Watson, who organized the event.
“This is my gift to the children,” Wat-
son said.
Buses supplied by the DeKalb County
School System took students and school
employees to a south DeKalb salon
where local businesses donated the ser-
vices for select students in foster homes
or transitional homes who have main-
tained a 3.0 or higher grade point aver-
age.
“We want to build up the self esteem
of the kids,” said Lawanda Bowen of
the Cosmetology Outreach Mentoring
Bridge (COMB), a non-profit organiza-
tion of cosmetologists and barbers who Dean Spires, a barber with HMJ’s House of Fades, provides free haircuts to select students with a 3.0 or higher grade point
collaborate with social service agencies average.
and other non-profit organizations to em-
power the lives of others through groom-
ing, outreach and mentoring services.
“We want to give them techniques to
take home with them on how to be young
ladies and young men,” Bowen said.
Jonathan Garcia, 15, received a
haircut from Dean Spires, a barber with
HMJ’s House of Fades, on Covington
Highway.
“I really do appreciate it,” Garcia said.
“They’re giving to me for free and they
don’t really have to do this.”
James Terrell, an owner of HMJ’s
House of Fades, said helping the students
was a part of his ministry to the commu-
nity.
“We’re all connected,” said Terrell, a
former homeless shelter worker. “If they
don’t have, I don’t have.”
Business at his shop has been a little
slow, he said.
“Sometimes when you can’t make
money, it’s best to give it,” Terrell said.
Kristy Gaiters, owner of Suite 20
Day Spa on Flat Shoals Parkway, where
the event was held, said life is not all
about the money.
“We’ve got to take care of our kids,”
Gaiters said. “We’ve been blessed. God
has blessed me from where I used to be.”
The food at the event was donated by
Bert Miller, a volunteer with Decatur
Army Youth Athletics,
“When I heard it was happening, I
said, ‘What can I do?’” said Miller, who
also donated $10 gift cards for the stu-
dents. “It’s all about giving to the kids.” Rachel Malone gets her hair styled by Kristy Gaiters, owner of Suite 20 Day Spa in south DeKalb. “We’ve got to take care of
our kids,” Gaiters said. Photos by Andrew Cauthen
www.championnewspaper.com
Lawmakers closing lobbying gateway to policymakers
by Nigel Roberts
Gaining access to public
policymakers is a challenge.
These women and men lead
busy lives, constantly dash-
ing off to meetings, and
they seldom have time to
sit and speak with everyone
seeking their attention.
Consequently, lobby-
ists routinely take an
indirect route to reach
these public officials:
they wine and dine
staff members.
According to com-
mon Cause Georgia,
lobbyists reported
spending more than
$200,000 in the first
three months of this
year on government
bureaucrats. They paid
for meals, entertain-
ment, trips and other
gifts to staffers with
the ultimate hope of influ-
encing public policy.
This renewed concern
about the corrupting influ-
ence of money in politics
arose as the 2011 legisla-
tive session drew to an end.
A week before lawmakers
wrapped up their work at
the Capitol, the state ethics
commission riled watchdog
groups when it ruled that
current laws do not require
lobbyists to disclose how
much money they spend on
bureaucrats. However, lob-
byists must still report how
much they spend on govern-
ment employees who make
Suspect identified
in killing of student
The DeKalb County
Sheriff’s Office has identi-
fied a suspect in the killing
of a Southwest DeKalb
High School student.
Antoine Willis Jr., 20,
is being sought in con-
nection with the shooting
death of 18-year-old Mar-
cus Holloway. The teen-
ager was shot Jan. 29 near
his home at the Columbia
Forest Apartments at 2505
Columbia Drive.
Willis is a member of
the gang Hoe Haters and
has the letter “H” tattooed
near his temple and has
a cross tattooed on his
decisions about vendor con-
tracts.
Realizing the conse-
quences of its decision, the
commission also urged law-
makers to close the loophole
by adding specific language
to state regulations that re-
quire full disclosure.
‘This is a move
that will likely harm
Georgia consumers.’
– Stephanie Stuckey Benfield
Lawmakers sought
to close the loophole by
amending Senate Bill 160, a
measure dealing with state-
regulated utilities’ contribu-
tions to political campaigns.
Advocates of transparency
in government say that fail-
ure to close this loophole
would cast a shadow of
suspicion on public policy-
making. Lobbyists, they say,
would be able to funnel gifts
to policymakers secretly
through their staff members.
Even if legislators and
the governor add explicit
language to state law requir-
ing disclosure, many still
forehead. He is 5-foot-4
and weighs approximately
120, according to the sher-
iff’s office.
Crime Stoppers Atlanta
is offering a reward of up
to $2,000 for informa-
tion leading to the arrest
and indictment of persons
responsible for the homi-
cide.
Anyone with informa-
tion can contact the Crime
Stopper tip line anony-
mously at (404) 577-TIPS
(8477), online at www.
crimestoppersatlanta.
org or text to CRIMES
(274637).
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011
wonder whether anything
would change. Do transpar-
ency laws level the playing
field between big-spending
lobbyists and ordinary citi-
zens who also want to influ-
ence policy?
“Dollars do speak,” Rep.
Dee Dawkins–Haigler (D –
Lithonia) said. “But voices
speak louder.” In March,
Dawkins–Haigler and Rep.
Rahn Mayo (D – Decatur)
organized a legislative train-
ing workshop in Decatur to
teach participants how to
advocate and influence pub-
lic policy.
According to Dawkins–
Haigler, regular citizens
can be more powerful than
lobbyists if they learn to
use certain tools. “There
is more power in the pen,
telephone calls, organizing
and approaching lawmakers
in groups than in lobbyists’
money,” she said.
As an example, Dawkins
–Haigler pointed to a let-
ter writing campaign that
school nutrition advocates
in Rockdale County used to
reach her. She recalled
that each of those
constituents (a part of
Dawkins–Haigler’s
district includes Rock-
dale) wrote individual
letters and delivered
them in one large en-
velope to her. “That
was powerful,” she
said.
Still, Dawkins–
Haigler acknowledges
another reality: “The
fact is that most law-
makers need contribu-
tions from lobbyists.
It’s a double edged
sword.” Since political cam-
paigns are expensive, poli-
ticians are always in need
of financial contributions,
which could make them in-
debted to the source.
“But that would change
if individuals start contribut-
ing to campaigns,” she said.
“Barack Obama and [for-
mer presidential candidate]
Howard Dean showed that
contributions as small as
$15 or $10 could empower
lawmakers to speak more
Page 11A
fully for the people.”
SB 160 passed as the
session ended, but faces
a “potential protest” from
Rep. Wendell Willard (R
– Sandy Springs), the chair-
man of the House Judiciary
Committee. He raised con-
cerns that the measure could
lead to corruption.
While closing the loop-
hole is important, Willard
said he would urge Gov. Na-
than Deal to veto SB 160,
the paper reported.
Rep. Stephanie Stuckey
Benfield (D – Decatur) said
it’s “unfortunate” that leg-
islative leaders tacked the
loophole closure to SB 160,
which she would allow utili-
ties to set up PACs (political
action committee) and make
political contributions.
“I voted against SB 160
(and the amendment closing
the staff expenditures loop-
hole) since I don’t think mo-
nopoly utilities like Georgia
Power should be donating to
entities that regulate them,”
she stated. “This is a move
that will likely harm Geor-
gia consumers.”
Stuckey Benfield encour-
ages voters to contact their
representative and hold
them accountable, as well
as joining organizations that
advocate transparency.
Page 12A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 www.championnewspaper.com

Be Someone’s Orrin Hudson opens a new

training center with a little help from his friends
by Kathy Mitchell
Orrin Hudson held
a copy of The Champion
Newspaper and shook his
head. He was reading a story
of a young person arrested
for a violent crime. “I’ve
got to step up my game,” he
declared. “I’ve got to get to
more of our young people—
teach them to think it out, not
shoot it out.”
It was just such a story that
inspired Hudson, a former
state patrolman, to start his
youth organization, Be Some-
one, more than 10 years ago.
Through the organization,
Hudson teaches young people
to play chess, but chess for
him is an allegory for life.
In both a winner must think
of not only the immediate
consequences, but the long-
term consequences of every
move, Hudson said. “I tell
them, ‘Every move has con-
sequences. They may be good
consequences or they may be
bad consequences, but every
move has consequences.’
You have to focus on what’s
in front of you. You have to
think not only about what you
need to do, but what the other
person is likely to do. That’s
how you become a winner.”
And Hudson is a winner
of major international chess
tournaments. He presents
Orrin Hudson is surrounded by some of his young chess players as well as a more-than-life-size fig-
ure that serves as a mascot for Be Someone.
an ongoing challenge to the
young people he works with:
anyone who beats him at chess
gets $1,000. No young person
has won the money, but it
keeps them interested.
During the past decade an
impressive list of celebrities
and news media have taken an
interest in Hudson’s work. He
has been featured in People
magazine, Sports Illustrated
and on CNN News among
other news outlets. Such na-
tional figures as former mayor
and ambassador Andrew
Young, actress Jane Fonda
and movie producer Tyler
Perry have offered more than
                     
        
encouraging words. Young has
spoken at Be Someone’s train-
ing center. Fonda has joined
Hudson on school visits, and
Perry came through in a pinch
when it appeared that the new
training center Hudson wanted
to open would be a dream de-
ferred.
The center, located across
the street from Stone Moun-
tain Middle School and within
a stone’s throw of Stone
Mountain High School and
Stone Mountain Elementary
School, was formerly a private
home. The building needed
renovation to be made suitable
for use as a training center
and to comply with DeKalb
County regulations.
“I had to go before the
DeKalb County Board of
Commissioners and have the
property rezoned, but that was
just the first step. We had to
add a wheelchair ramp and a
large enough parking lot. We
had to redo the curb. There
just seemed to be no end to
it, but after the county people
saw how serious I was they
started helping, showing me
ways to spend less money, but
still be in compliance with
the county code,” Hudson re-
called.
See Hudson on Page 13A

start here. Memories and Milstones

Get
Get a seCOND
GPC ChaNCe.
  









GPC’s Gateway to College Academy is a second chance 

for a high school diploma. 




If your child dropped out of high school before finishing, they can still earn a diploma by attending 
Georgia Perimeter College’s Gateway to College Academy. This specially funded program was 

specifically developed for Dekalb County high school students who drop out before graduating. 
With a little hard work, some amazing teachers and the support of their own learning community, 
they can earn their high school diploma and start classes at GPC with a Gateway Academy 
scholarship. Sometimes, a second chance is all that’s needed. Help them find theirs at GPC. 
 


Learn more by attending an information session 

at the Second Chance Educational Fair on GPC’s 
Clarkston Campus, Saturday, April 30, from 9 to noon.
Call (678) 891-3220 or visit www.gpc.edu/~gpcgway
Two Years That Will Change Your Life
 
 
    
www.championnewspaper.com The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 Page 13A

Proposed DeKalb Schools’ budget restores furloughs, pre-k program

by Daniel Beauregard
daniel@dekalbchamp.com
Furlough days will be
eliminated and the pre-
kindergarten program in
the DeKalb County School
System will be restored under
a tentative 2011-12 budget
adopted by the school board
April 18.
The $1.16 billion budget,
which is subject to change
before overall approval by
the board in July, has a list of
approximately $42 million
in improvements, including
restoration of furlough days
for 10-, 11- and 12-month
employees.
Other significant
restorations include pre-
kindergarten programs,
covering Advanced
Placement exam costs, and
money for fingerprinting and
criminal background checks.
The board also discussed
secondary math options
for the system that were
developed to help students
who are struggling with
high school curriculum.
The secondary options were
originally put forward by
Georgia Department of
Education on March 14.
“The whole point of the
state coming back to local
school districts and providing
flexible options [is] so that
we can provide pathways
for these students that have
been failing miserably in
math, with the opportunity to
put in two models,” Interim
Superintendent Ramona
Hudson
Continued From Page 12A
Tyson said.
If passed, the change in
policy would allow students
the choice to remain in the
integrated program, which in-
fuses the teaching of algebra,
geometry, advanced algebra
and pre-calculus, or take each
subject separately.
“Some parents feel like
their students will perform
better if they could just focus
on the algebra content at one
time; then, you have some
students who are doing very
well with the integrated ap-
proach,” said Morcease Bea-
sley, interim deputy superin-
tendent of the department of
teaching and learning.
“Therefore, we were pre-
Regarding the Proposed Franchise Agreement Renewal
Send your comments and/or concerns regarding Comcast’s current performance under
the current franchise agreement and/or the future cable-related needs and interests of
your community to cable@co.dekalb.ga.us.
The Champion Weather
Seven Day Forecast
THURSDAY
Mostly Sunny
High: 72 Low: 49
FRIDAY
Sunny
High: 77 Low: 52
SATURDAY
Sunny
High: 81 Low: 57
SUNDAY
Sunny
High: 79 Low: 60
MONDAY
Scat'd T-storms
High: 75 Low: 64
sented with this option, this and physical education by eight required actions it said
flexibility, and we had to re- the enrollment size of each the system must address be-
ally listen to everyone and school. fore Oct. 31 to be restored to
try to do what’s in the best “The STAR staffing for- full accreditation status.
interest of all our students,” mula is designed to bring “We have eight subcom-
Beasley said. clarity, equity and fairness to mittees that have [developed]
Only students who are ris- the process to provide each an action plan that is now in
ing ninth graders, ninth grad- school with the appropri- progress and work is occur-
ers who fail Mathematics 1 ate number of [teachers],” ring on a daily basis within
or Mathematics 1 Support or DeKalb Schools Chief Finan- the subcommittees to ensure
10-12th graders who do not cial Officer Marcus Turk that the school district is re-
have any math credits would said. sponsive to all eight required
be eligible under the proposed Tyson also discussed the actions,” Tyson said.
policy change to opt-out of efforts the school system is The full report issued by
the integrated system. making to address the reasons AdvancED offers a much
The board also discussed it was placed on accreditation more in-depth analysis and
the implementation of the advisement by AdvancED, is available on the DeKalb
STAR staffing formula, which the parent corporation of the County School System
will calculate the positions for Southern Association of Col- website at www.dekalb.k12.
assistant principal, counselor, leges and Schools (SACS). ga.us.
media specialist, art, music AdvanceED identified
DeKalb County Wants to Hear From You
with Comcast Cable Communications
April 28, 2011
In-Depth Local Forecast Today's Regional Map Weather History
Today we will see mostly sunny skies with a 30% April 28, 1921 - A severe hail-
chance of showers and thunderstorms, high storm in Anson County, N.C.
temperature of 72º, humidity of 40%. West wind Dunwoody produced hail the size of base-
10 to 15 mph. The record high temperature for 70/48 Lilburn balls. Gardens, grain fields and
today is 87º set in 1981. Expect mostly clear skies Smyrna Doraville 71/49 trees were destroyed. Some pine
tonight with an overnight low of 49º. 71/49 71/49 trees in the storm’s path had to
Snellville be cut for lumber because of the
*Last Week’s Almanac Decatur
72/49 hail damage.
Atlanta 72/49
Date Hi Lo Normals Precip
72/49
Tuesday 85 58 74/51 0.00" Lithonia
April 29, 1988 - Thunderstorms
College Park
Wednesday 79 62 74/51 0.00"
73/49
73/49
produced large hail and high
Thursday 81 60 74/52 0.20"
Friday 73 55 74/52 0.06"
Morrow
winds in central Texas. Hail the
Saturday 77 53 75/52 0.01" Union City
73/49
size of baseballs were reported at
Sunday 85 56 75/53 0.00" 73/49 Nixon and wind gusts to 70 mph
were reported at Cotulla. Heavy
Monday 84 63 75/53 0.11"
Hampton rain in Maine caused flooding
Rainfall . . . . . . .0.38" Average temp . .69.4
74/50 along the Pemigewassett and
Normal rainfall . .0.77" Average normal 63.2
Departure . . . . .-0.39" Departure . . . . .+6.2 Ammonoosuc Rivers.
*Data as reported from De Kalb-Peachtree Airport

A donor offered Be Some- Local Sun/Moon Chart This Week Tonight's Planets
TUESDAY
one $14,000 to help with the Few Showers New
Day Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset
Rise Set
Thursday 6:52 a.m. 8:18 p.m. 4:10 a.m. 4:26 p.m. Full
training center, but only if High: 71 Low: 55 5/3 Friday 6:51 a.m. 8:19 p.m. 4:37 a.m. 5:20 p.m. 5/17
Mercury 5:55 a.m. 6:19 p.m.
the amount was matched by Saturday 6:50 a.m. 8:20 p.m. 5:05 a.m. 6:15 p.m.
Venus 5:40 a.m. 5:57 p.m.
another donor. That second WEDNESDAY Sunday 6:48 a.m. 8:21 p.m. 5:35 a.m. 7:10 p.m.
Mars 6:07 a.m. 6:51 p.m.
Jupiter 6:12 a.m. 6:56 p.m.
donor turned out to be Perry, Partly Cloudy First Monday 6:47 a.m. 8:21 p.m. 6:07 a.m. 8:07 p.m. Last Saturn 6:03 p.m. 5:58 a.m.
who not only provided enough High: 74 Low: 56 5/10 Tuesday 6:46 a.m. 8:22 p.m. 6:43 a.m. 9:04 p.m. 5/24 Uranus 5:20 a.m. 5:26 p.m.
to match the challenge grant, Wednesday 6:46 a.m. 8:23 p.m. 7:24 a.m. 10:01 p.m.
but enough to complete the Local UV Index National Weather Summary This Week Weather Trivia
parking lot and more.
?
The Northeast will see widespread showers and thunderstorms today, mostly clear
“I was on CNN late at to partly cloudy skies with a few showers Friday and Saturday, with the highest
What are the horse
night. The next morning I got 0 - 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+ temperature of 77º in Georgetown, Del. The Southeast will see mostly clear to
latitudes?
a phone call from someone in UV Index
partly cloudy skies with a few thunderstorms today through Saturday, with the highest temperature Answer: They are areas where
Tyler Perry’s organization. She 0-2: Low, 3-5: Moderate, of 92º in Punta Gorda, Fla. The Northwest will see scattered showers today through Saturday, with large high pressure centers
wanted an address where she 6-7: High, 8-10: Very High the highest temperature of 68º in Torrington, Wyo. The Southwest will see mostly clear skies today keep winds very weak.
could Fed Ex a check to me,” 11+: Extreme Exposure through Saturday, with the highest temperature of 101º in Yuma, Ariz. www.WhatsOurWeather.com
Hudson said. “I tell the young StarWatch By Gary Becker - Oh, Those Meteorite Men
people that when people see When I entered the huge gymnasium of Rockland Community College about 25 miles NW of New York City, it was the Meteorite Men’s booth that first caught my atten-
that you’re trying to do some- tion. There sitting on a folding chair munching fries was Steve Arnold of the Science Channel who has traveled the world with Geoff Notkin in search of the extraterrestri-
thing, they will step in and al. “They’re too overpriced,” I said to a beautiful assistant working the crowd. She opened one of the cases and handed me a sizeable chunk of a Sikhote-Alin, the biggest
help you. No one will offer to fall in recorded history. My fingers raced over this gorgeous baby of beautifully thumbprinted iron and nickel that had struck the Earth in eastern Russia in 1947. She smiled
and asked me if I liked it. My head nodded even as I heard the $2000 purchase price. I then moved along to an attractively oriented Gebel Kamil that was bargain priced at only $1500.
help you if they see you sitting These space nomads had been discovered in the Egyptian Desert in 2009 and released for purchase last year. But the prize catch was a 180 gram Vaca Muerta full slice from the Atacama
around doing nothing.” Desert in northern Chile. OMG, this beauty had caught my eye on eBay about a month earlier, as another overpriced Meteorite Men trinket, but there it was in its full splendor. Flecks of
There’s still a little work brightly glittering nickel-iron mixed with rock spoke of an unimaginably violent crash of an iron meteoroid with a stony meteoroid eons ago. It hit Earth well before Neanderthals had
to be at the new center, but roamed Europe and has remained in the Atacama for perhaps as long as 800,000 years, only to be picked up by the MM, sliced and polished, and put on sale for a mere $2700. By this
it definitely will be ready for point I must have been foaming at the mouth, and the dark-haired female with her attentive eyes fully expected me to reach for my MasterCard. I thought of my wife, Sue, and our pet rab-
bits staving for lack of sustenance over my petty greed, and I walked away shaking at the thought of what I had almost done. www.astronomy.org
chess camps this summer.
HeaLtH
Study:
Half of supermarket meat
may have staph bug
by Mike Stobbe
ATLANTA (AP) Half the
meat and poultry sold in the
supermarket may be tainted
with the staph germ, a new
report suggests.
The new estimate is
based on just 136 samples
of beef, chicken, pork and
turkey purchased from gro-
cery stores in Chicago, Los
Angeles, Washington, Flag-
staff, Ariz. and Fort Lauder-
dale, Fla.
Proper cooking kills the
germs, and federal health
officials estimate staph ac-
counts for less than 3 per-
cent of food-borne illnesses,
far less than more common
bugs like salmonella and E.
coli.
The new study found
more than half the samples
contained Staphylococcus
aureus, a bacteria that can
make people sick. Worse,
half of those contaminated
samples had a form of staph
that’s resistant to at least
three kinds of antibiotics.
“This study shows that
much of our meat and poul-
try is contaminated with
multidrug-resistant staph,”
Paul Keim, one of the
study’s authors, said in a
statement. “Now we need to
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011
determine what this means
in terms of risk to the con-
sumer.”
Keim and his co-authors
work at the nonprofit Trans-
lational Genomics Research
Institute in Arizona. Their
study is to be published in
the journal Clinical Infec-
tious Diseases, an institute
spokesman said.
Staph germs are com-
monly found on the skin
and in the noses of up to 25
percent of healthy people.
The bacteria can be spread
in many settings, including
in the packing plant or in
the kitchen, and it can cause
food poisoning.
The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention es-
timates that staph accounts
for roughly 240,000 cases
a year. Hand washing and
proper cooking are the best
ways to avoid problems.
The study’s authors note
that livestock and poultry
are steadily fed low doses
of antibiotics at industrial
farms. They suggest that
may be a contributor to the
antibiotic resistance seen in
some meat samples.
Among the types of
drug-resistant germs the
researchers found, one was
methicillin-resistant staph,
Page 14A
Board Chair Thomas W. Dortch, Jr.
&
President & CEO Leona Barr-Davenport
Cordially Invite You to the...
Thirt y- Thir d A nn ua l
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
A p p r e c i at i o n L u n c h e o n
Tuesday | May 17, 2011 | 11:30 am
Hyatt Regency Atlanta
265 Peachtree Street
NETWORKING BEGINS AT 11:00 AM
For information or tickets, visit www.atlantabusinessleague.org
or call (404) 584-8126 | RSVP by Friday, May 13
33rd Annual CEO Awards Luncheon Co-Chairs
Richard Holmes Erica Qualls
Senior Vice President, Georgia Power General Manager, Atlanta Marriott Marquis
2011 Honorees
COrpOratiOn Of thE YEar
CEO Of thE YEar
The Hon. Kasim Reed
Mayor EntrEprEnEur Of thE YEar
Mack Wilbourn City of Atlanta Tirrell D. Whittley
President CEO & Principal
Mack II, Inc. Liquid Soul Media
33
CatalYst
The Hon. John H. Eaves, Ph.D
Chairman
Fulton County Commission
lEaguE lEadErship
Tad Hutcheson
Vice President, Marketing and Sales
AirTran Airways
or MRSA, a superbug that Sponsors
can be fatal. They found
MRSA in three of the 136
samples.
Food and Drug Admin-
istration officials say meat
does not seem to be a signif-
icant route for MRSA trans-
mission, but health officials Atlanta Gas Light Company | Atlanta Life Financial Group | Verizon Wireless
continue to study the issue. AT&T | Atlanta Peach Movers | BB&T | C. D. Moody Construction Company
The government doesn’t Citizens Trust Bank | H.J. Russell & Company | Holder Manhattan Moody Hunt
routinely check retail meat Metro Atlanta Chamber | Reuben Cannon Productions | SSP America
and poultry for staph bac-
teria. However, a fairly re-
cent FDA pilot study in the
Washington area looked at
more than 1,100 meat and
poultry samples and found
staph in 280 of them.
A Louisiana State Uni-
versity study of 120 meat
samples found it in almost
half of pork chops and 20
percent of beef steak sam-
ples. That study, published
in 2009, calculated the su-
perbug MRSA was in about
5 percent of pork samples
and 3 percent of beef.
In a statement April 15,
the American Meat Institute
said the study is misleading.
“Despite the claims of
this small study, consumers
can feel confident that meat
and poultry is safe,” said
James H. Hodges, the orga-
nization’s president.
www.championnewspaper.com
Sandra Continued From Page 1A
an. She also had parts in Hairspray, Jersey Boys
and Happy Days the Musical. Among her television
and film credits are: Georgia Rule, That ‘70s Show,
Gilmore Girls and ER.
Shrek The Musical is currently on its last leg of
a yearlong 33-city run. The production will wrap
after trekking through 10 more cities.
“It can be exhausting,” said DeNise, noting
they do eight shows a week. However she said she
loves performing—particularly seeing the enjoy-
ment of audiences and how theater can lift spirits.
“It’s a great opportunity. I get to see the country. I
really can’t complain.”
DeNise, who is 34, also she’s at a point in her
life when many friends have married and are hav-
ing children. She’s trying to figure out if she wants
to dedicate time for a relationship and a family or
remain focused on her career.
“Getting paid to do what I love to do [only]
a small percentage of people get to say that,” she
commented.
When the production ends, DeNise, who
moved from Los Angeles to New York City just
prior to joining Shrek, said that she plans to take a
month off to relax.
She cites her family, Chick-fil-A and hospitality
among the things she misses most about the South.
However she said she will also miss her adopted
family when the production wraps.
“You really become a family with the people
you work with, not just the actors, the crew, musi-
cians…carpenters,” said DeNise. “It’s really an
exceptional community to be a part of .”
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011
ELF
“We got a grant from Georgia Organics
that allows us to double the value of food
stamps at the market. So, at half off it be-
comes a more realistic opportunity. If you
can’t afford the food, it’s not an option, but
if you can then it becomes an option and the
next step is getting people to choose that op-
tion,” Williams said.
Federal food stamps were replaced sev-
eral years ago by the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP). Each person
who is enrolled in the program has a card
with their monthly allowance on it and, at the
market, they can use that card to purchase
goods from vendors who qualify.
“We accept the SNAP cards; you swipe it
first and [ask for] $10 and then you get $20
in market tokens that are expendable as cash
with vendors who qualify for the SNAP pro-
gram,” Williams said.
The market also partners with local
churches to build awareness and is consider-
ing starting partnerships with local elemen-
tary schools to get children in the area eating
healthy.
It was primarily through these efforts that
the market received non-profit status; some-
thing that Williams said will make it much
easier for the market to grow. It also allows
them to afford to keep market manager Lou
Linzie on staff.
Linzie, who organized the “Farm to Gar-
den” event, said another goal for them this
Page 15A
Continued From Page 1A
season is to bring more farmers to the mar-
ket, which is hard because there aren’t many
certified natural and certified organic farmers
in Georgia.
“All [the markets are] kind of fighting
[over] them right now, which is a great thing
for our farmers, but to keep this movement
growing we have to find more ways to sup-
port [them],” she said.
Linzie, who has studied sustainable
development, said that the more she worked
with farmers she realized how difficult it was
to farm, especially in the South. The idea
behind the event was to support local farmers
and also connect them with gardeners in an
effort to have them look at their customers in
a different light.
“It’s about connecting gardeners to farm-
ers—not just to consumers and veggie eat-
ers—and having our farmers maybe look
at their consumers differently, about what
they’ll buy and what they’ll do…I hope this
will become an annual thing,” Linzie said.
“Our farmers need our support right now.
This market has had a little bit of trouble
getting them to come out, so this year we’re
really focused on getting a lot more farmers
out [here],” she said.
The East Lake Farmers Market runs every
Saturday, May 7 through the end of October,
from 10-2 p.m.
 Page 16A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 www.championnewspaper.com

News and events of the

DEKALB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
100 Crescent Center Pkwy, Suite 680, Tucker, GA 30084 • 404.378.8000• www.DeKalbchamberofcommerce.org

The ingredients for a great Chamber of Commerce

by Kevin Greiner,
President and CEO, Gas South
2012 Chair-Elect of the DeKalb Chamber
of Commerce
The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
has a long history with many great ac-
complishments over its 70-plus year
history. While a strong tradition is a
great foundation for any organization,
the DeKalb Chamber’s focus is today on
continued relevance and impact for its
members through innovative programs
and effective advocacy. I’d like to share
with you some of the things we’re do-
ing at the DeKalb Chamber and how it
can help your business to be successful
while also strengthening the business
environment in DeKalb County.
First, consider the networking and
business development opportunities
that a chamber membership can bring.
Chamber events bring together a cross-
section of professionals from our busi-
ness, civic and governmental sectors
that you will not find elsewhere. At a
typical chamber event, you’ll find entre-
preneurs, educators, elected officials,
civil servants, not-for-profit leaders, and
representatives from the leading compa-
nies doing business in DeKalb County.
The personal and professional benefits
from your chamber membership won’t
happen automatically – you’ll need to
invest your time in attending events and
getting involved. But if you’re serious
about doing business in DeKalb County,
the chamber’s events and its helpful staff
will help you achieve your goals.
A second benefit of a chamber
membership is the opportunity to work
on some of the toughest issues that our
county faces. The chamber takes a lead
role on issues related to education, eco-
nomic development, transportation, en-
vironmental quality, taxes and business
licensing. A good chamber does not
shy away from taking on tough issues,
and the DeKalb Chamber is no excep-
tion. For example, the DeKalb Chamber
has played an active role in working to
strengthen our public schools through
volunteer efforts and advocacy of gov-
ernance changes that we believe will
improve the education that our children
receive while also improving our ability to
attract and retain businesses.
Our chamber also advocates for “One
DeKalb” – which means celebrating the
diversity of our neighborhoods, our ex-
ceptional institutions of higher education
and our recreational facilities. While we
will at times have our differences, the
chamber works to find common ground
among various constituencies with the
goal of making DeKalb County an even
better place to live, work and play.
DeKalb County has a lot going for it,
and the chamber works hard to publicize
and leverage our great assets. We will
also continue to candidly address the
areas where we need improvement. The
DeKalb Chamber needs you and your
organization to help us reach our goals. Kevin Greiner
Please join the Chamber, and equally
importantly, get involved.

First Monday Lunch – June 6, 2011

Dr. Betty Siegel to speak on ethical leadership
Never has leadership been more
critical and in greater demand than to-
day. With current economic conditions,
world affairs, the political climate and
just the fast pace of life - we need lead-
ers that lead and inspire.
Dr Betty Siegel led Kennesaw
University for 25 years and branded it
as one of the most ‘innovative universi-
ties’ anywhere. Under her administra-
tion Kennesaw State grew from 4,000
students with 15 baccalaureate degree
programs to an 18,000 student univer-
sity with 55 baccalaureate and graduate
degree programs.
Since her retirement from the presi-
dency at Kennesaw State University,
Siegel has implemented many global
initiatives that have taken her worldwide
to spread the message of leadership,
ethics and character. The signature
program of Siegel and her colleague,
Dr. John Knapp, is The Oxford Con-
clave on Global Ethics, an initiative in
higher education launched in 2005.
The Conclave serves as a catalyst for a
movement to renew higher education’s
commitment to the development of ethi-
cal leadership and to explore its role as
a change agent for social responsibility.
This phenomenal woman does not
talk about leadership–she embodies it
in her life and work. Come be inspired
as she offers practical tips on Ethical
leadership we can immediately use in
our businesses. Register online to at-
tend.
Betty Siegel

Save these important dates for May and June: Brought to you in partnership with
May 10 – New Members Lunch Reception Presented by the May 19 – Waiting for Superman – Screening & Panel
AJC Discussion
May 18 – Network DeKalb Leads Group Sponsored by Bank May 26 – Business After-Hours – Hosted by Fairfield Inn &
of North Georgia & Gregory B. Levett & Sons. Suites
May 19 – 94th District Small Business Forum presented by
State Representative Dar’shun Kendrick Save the Date – June 6 – First Monday Lunch – Dr. Betty Siegel
business The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 Page 17A

Roost owner Marlon Heard says he loves to entertain and believes in sup-
porting local businesses—those passions influence his choices in mer-
chandise for his shop. Photos by Kathy Mitchell

Roost—shop in Avondale Estates

helps make a house a home
by Kathy Mitchell
It’s impossible to spend time
in Roost, a relatively new shop
in the heart of Avondale Estates,
without getting to know its owner,
Marlon Heard. Even if Heard
isn’t around, his tastes and interests
are so infused in the selection of
merchandise that visitors can’t help
getting insight into his lifestyle.
When he’s around—and he
usually is—visitors find Heard
chatty and helpful, telling them
about the eclectic mixture of
accessories, vintage and custom
furniture, kitchen items, gifts and
other offerings in the shop. With a
background in art—he taught art
in DeKalb and Gwinnett public
schools—he enjoys helping people
select special gifts, decorate rooms
(especially “problem areas”) and
plan for entertaining.
“I love to entertain,” Heard said,
and that pastime is the inspiration
for many of the items from linens
to candles found in Roost, where
corners of the shop suggest a cozy
and inviting home that seems to
need only a few close friends and a
sumptuous meal.
Heard, in fact, explained that he
selected the name for the shop by
doing an internet search on the word
“home.” “I eventually landed on
the word ‘nest,’ and that took me to
‘roost’ and the name of my shop,”
he recalled.
Roost sometimes hosts events,
particularly in the garden room,
which faces the parking area of
the James Joyce Pub. On Saturday,
April 30, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. it will
be the site of a garden party where
Heard will offer light springtime
refreshments and be on hand to give
ideas for outdoor entertaining and
show off items in the shop designed
for outdoor living.
“Here in the South we have
so many days that are perfect for
spending time outdoors, why not
make those spaces as livable as the
rest of the home?” he suggested.
The vintage furniture includes
custom pieces from small side
tables to bookshelves that have been
refinished and repurposed by Heard.
He said that those who are looking
for something specific should ask,
adding that he has a number of
“wonderful craftsmen” with whom
he works to create custom pieces for
his customers.
Another of Heard’s passions is
supporting local artisans, which
he said is “an important part of the
Roost philosophy.” Around the shop
are items from soaps to greeting
cards that were produced in Georgia
as cottage industries.
“I’ve discovered a number of
local vendors and artisans, like Sue
Sullivan’s Hot Squeeze sauces, or
Elaine Callahan’s graceful note
cards, both based in Decatur,” he
said. “The candles are from the
Himalayan Trading Post in Conyers,
and we have wonderful soaps from
Ele & Honey Company in Rutledge
[Ga.].”
Despite the specialized selection
of merchandise, Heard said he
works at keeping the prices
affordable. “I want this to be a place
where everyone can come in and
shop comfortably,” he said.
Heard said that most of his
merchandise is bought at auctions,
which he attends regularly. “The
merchandise turnover is rapid,” he
said. “A person could come in just
a week after their last visit and find
a variety of items that weren’t there
before.”
education
Hollywood star teaches math at Decatur High
by Daniel Beauregard
daniel@dekalbchamp.com
Decatur High School
students sat in on geometry
class that Danica McKel-
lar taught on April 19.
McKellar, known most
notably for her role as
Winnie Cooper on the tele-
vision series The Wonder
Years, taught the class as
part of a partnership with
the DeVry University Her-
World program.
Many people may not
know that McKellar at-
tended UCLA and studied
mathematics, graduating
at the top of her class. She
has continued acting but
now also focuses on her
writing career.
“My whole goal is to
show girls that math is for
them and I make the books
look girly and fun—they
look more like magazines
than math books—so that
way girls don’t feel that
they’re a sidebar or an af-
terthought,” McKellar said.
McKellar’s books, Math
Doesn’t Suck: How to Sur-
vive Middle School Math
Without Losing Your Mind
or Breaking a Nail; Kiss
My Math: Showing Pre-Al-
gebra Who’s Boss; and Hot
X: Algebra Exposed, focus
on getting young girls from
middle to early high school
interested in math.
“Math is a tool; it em-
powers you to be a prob-
lem solver, to believe in
yourself and overcome
challenges,” McKellar
said.
Growing up, McKellar
said she found herself feel-
ing a little empty because
people would only recog-
nize her as Winnie Cooper,
the character she played
on television. She began
to wonder about who she
would be if she had never
been on The Wonder Years.
“Pursuing math gave
me something, a gift of
confidence, and I felt really
good about myself,” McK-
ellar said. Most of the math
teachers at UCLA recog-
nized her as an exceptional
math student and she said
that this was the first time
in her life that she had re-
ceived recognition for be-
ing something other than a
child star.
McKellar then began to
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 Page 18A
realize that she didn’t have
to rely on people recogniz-
ing her as Winnie Cooper
for her to feel good about
herself.
“That’s why you see a
lot of child stars not doing
so well, because they are
so dependent on that other
personae and they don’t
know who they are outside
of that…I didn’t know
what my value was until
I became a math major,”
McKellar said.
McKellar was invited
to the school because a
group of girls at Decatur
High had participated in a
science competition with
Danica McKellar, middle, from the television series “The Wonder Years,” visits with a group of girls from
other high school girls Decatur High before teaching a math class at the school as part of DeVry’s University HerWorld Program.
from throughout the coun- AP Photo
try as part of the HerWorld
program.
“Decatur High School’s
team designed a toothbrush
with a little microchip in
it that could [recognize]
the amount of gingivitis
and plaque…. and Decatur
High won and with that
they earned the right to
have Danica teach,” Chris
Chavez, Atlanta metro
president of DeVry Univer-
sity said.
Chavez said that the
mission of the HerWorld
program is to show young
girls the possibilities and
career opportunities that
exist in the science, tech-
nology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM)
fields.
“I believe that in the
STEM industries, there are
a lot of those types of jobs
going unfilled in the U.S.
and the more we can do in
the nation to fill those jobs
the better we will be in the
long run,” Chavez said.
Chavez said that many
STEM fields are still
dominated by males, and,
although this is the first
year McKellar has been
involved throughout the
program’s 13-year history,
he said that her message to
young girls aligns perfectly
with what DeVry is trying
to do.
“Through these work-
shops and talks we’re able
to build confidence and
say, ‘Hey, you can have
a career in science and
math,’ and that’s Danica’s
message through her
books,” Chavez said.
www.championnewspaper.com The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 Page 19A

TheChampion
For Prices, Deadlines and Information
Classifieds
Visit www.championclassifieds.com
RATES: $30.00 for up to 40 words, each additional word $0.60. All ads are prepaid!
All Major credit cards accepted!

Business Connection Ads are $325.00 for 3 months

BUSINESS 9569. www.driveknight.
OPPORTUNITY com
Do you earn $800.00 Driver - Experienced
in a day? Your own lo- OTR Drivers. Up to
cal candy route. 25 $4000 Sign-ON CASH
machines and candy all and $500 LAPTOP or
for $9995.00. All major GPS. Up to .39¢ per
credit cards accepted. mile. 888-463-3962.6mo
877-915-8222. OTR exp & current
CDL. www.usatruck.
BUSINESS SERVICES jobs eoe m/f/h/v
Remodeling Contrac- Drivers/CDL Training -
tor Turn Your Home CAREER CENTRAL NO
Remodel Ideas Into A MONEY DOWN CDL
Reality. Call Rob at 404- TRAINING. Work for us
207-2875 or Visit Us or let us work for you!
Online at www.atmcon- Unbeatable Career op-
structors.net to Request portunities. *Trainee *
A Quote Now. Company Driver *Lease
Operator. Earn up to
DRIVERS $51K *Lease Trainers.
Earn up to $80K (877)
ACT NOW! New Pay In- 369-6712. www.central-
crease! 37-46cpm. New truckdrivingjobs.com
Trucks in 2011. Need 2
months CDL-A Driving DRIVER - Possible
Exp. 877-258-8782. HOME WEEKLY! No
Touch Freight! No
Drivers - CDL-A GREAT forced NE/NYC! 6
HOME TIME! Start up months experience. NO
to 43¢ per mile. SIGN felony/DUI last 5 years.
ON BONUS!! Lease Solos & Teams Wanted.
Purchase available. New Pay Package! 877-
Experience Req’d. 800- 740-6262. www.ptl-inc.
441-4271 xGA-100. com
HornadyTransportation.
com Drivers - PAY IN-
CREASE! Regional Van
Driver RECCESSION Drivers start at 37cpm
PROOF freight! 2012 w/1 year experience.
Trucks! LOCAL Orienta- Training available for
tion. DAILY or WEEKLY drivers w/less experi-
Pay! Hometime Choic- ence. Great benefits/
es! F/T or P/T. CDL-A, Home Weekly. Call
3 months current OTR 888-362-8608, or visit
experience. 800-414- AVERITTcareers.com.
EOE HELP WANTED - Train for high paying
Aviation Maintenance
TWO CENT PAY FOREMEN to lead util- Career. FAA Approved
RAISE. NOW OF- ity field crews. Outdoor program. Financial aid
FEREDFOR NEW physical work, many if qualified - Job place-
DRIVERS! Plus 2 day positions, paid training, ment assistance. CALL
orientation, high miles, $17/hr plus weekly per- Aviation Institute of
excellent equipment, formance bonuses after Maintenance (866) 564-
dry van and flatbed promotion, living allow- 9634.
freight! $500 Sign-On ance when traveling,
Bonus for Flatbed. CDL- company and truck ben- SCHOOLS AND
A, 6mo. OTR. 888-801- efits. Must have strong INSTRUCTION
5295. leadership skills, good
driving history, and able USE YOUR GI BILL -
Small Fleet Owners or to travel in Georgia and LEARN TO OPERATE.
Owner Operators. Save nearby States. Email Heavy Equipment and
up to 32¢/gal using our resume to Recruiter3@ Crane. Approved for
Fuel Discount Network. osmose.com or apply VA Educational Funds.
Earn $2.00/mi. Stay online at www.Osmo- Member of Yellow Rib-
Profitable, Stay Loaded. seUtilities.com EOE bon Program. www.
CRST Malone 866-970- M/F/D/V GA-SC.com Call today
2778. 1-888-357-2596
INSURANCE REPRE-
EQUIPMENT FOR SENTATIVE NEEDED.
SALE Most earn $50K-$100K
or more. Call our branch
SAWMILLS - Band/ office at 404-917-0800.
Chainsaw - Cut lumber Ask for Debbie or email Cute home on quiet street.
any dimension, anytime. debra.bing@insphereis. 3 BR, 2.5 bths., FP., all appl. w/
Build anything from com. Visit www.ins- W&D. Nice neighbors. Move-in
cond. Available NOW. $950/
furniture to homes. IN phereis-atlanta.com mth. plus deposit. Includes rent
STOCK ready to ship. and sec. syst. (770) 343-8663
From $4090. www. MISCELLANEOUS or (770) 367-8049.
NorwoodSawmills.
com/300N 1-800-578- DIVORCE with or HOME FOR RENT
1363 Ext. 300N without CHILDREN Decatur
$149.00. Includes (I-20 & Candler Rd)
HEALTH & FITNESS FREE name change
and marital prop- Brick ranch
Experienced x-ray tech erty settlement docu- Redecorated like new.
needed five days a ments. BANKRUPTCY 3 BEDROOM, 1 BATH,
week (9 to 5) at local $125.00. WILLS $49.00. $675/mo.
county jail. No benefits Criminal Expungements
or insurance. $2,500 $49.00. Power of Attor- 3 years references
monthly. Fax applica- ney $39.00. Call 1-888- a MUST.
tion to (229) 777-0159 789-0198. 24/7. Off Candler Rd.
or e-mail application to Call 404-373-7779
hcx@mchsi.com AIRLINES ARE HIRING
ask for Mary Ann.

Ads Due By Friday - Noon

We do not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate,
DISCL AIMER

or intend to discriminate, on any illegal basis. Nor do we

knowingly accept employment advertisements that are not
bona-fide job offers. All real estate advertisements are subject
to the fair housing act and we do not accept advertising that
for next publication date The Champion is not responsible for
is in violation of the law. The law prohibits discrimination
based on color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or
any damages resulting from advertisements. All sales final.
familial status.
Page 20A
AROUND
ATLANTA
Callanwolde artists
participate in tour
Artists of the Callanwolde
Fine Arts Center Clay Guild
have been invited to partici-
pate in the Artist Market of
the Druid Hills Home and
Garden Tour. The event will
be Friday and Saturday, April
29 and 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
and Sunday, May 1, 1 to 5
p.m. The Artist Market will
be at St. John’s Lutheran
Church in Druid Hills, 1410
Ponce de Leon Ave., NE, At-
lanta. Works are created by
Callanwolde pottery students
with three to 25 years of
experience in hand building
and wheel throwing. A por-
tion of the proceeds will ben-
efit the Callanwolde Pottery
Program at Callanwolde Fine
Arts Center. For more infor-
mation call (404) 219-0872.
Emory commencement
recital open to public
The Timothy Albrecht
Commencement Organ
Recital, part of the Emory
University Organist
Recital Series, will be held
Sunday, May 8, at 4 p.m.
at the Schwartz Center for
Performing Arts, Emerson
Concert Hall, 1700 N.
Decatur Road, Atlanta.
The concert is free. Emory
University Organist Timothy
Albrecht will perform light
classics suitable for the
Emory Commencement
Weekend. The program
includes the festive Widor
“Toccata” and the noble Sir
Edward Elgar “Pomp and
Circumstance March IV.” For
more information, contact the
university at (404) 727-5050,
boxoffice@emory.edu, or
www.arts.emory.edu.
WWW.CHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 www.championnewspaper.com
DEKALB
DECATUR 14, from 9 a.m. - noon. Chil-
dren will have a chance to
Hour” community service
project at Fitzgerald Field,
Grief class offered learn bicycle safety and to one of the oldest privately
gain hands-on experience of owned youth athletic
Pilgrim Cathedral of At- the skills involved and what it facilities in the country,
lanta is conducting a six- takes to ride a bicycle safely. located near the intersection
week class, Emotional The event is free and open of Lawrenceville Highway
Wholeness, Through the to the public. and Jimmy Carter Boulevard.
Grief and Loss Process, be- It’s home to many local
ginning in May. The semi- youth football teams. On
nar will be facilitated by a
licensed professional coun-
LITHONIA Saturday, May 14, at 10
a.m. volunteers will clean
selor. Sessions begin Sun- Walk, health fair to raise up the facility in advance
day, May 1, at 9:30 a.m. Pil- AIDS awareness of the spring football game
grim Cathedral of Atlanta is for Tucker High School.
located at 2589 Tilson Road. The AID Africa Miracle Volunteers are asked to
Decatur. For more informa- Mission Walk & Community/ bring gloves and rakes. This
tion, call (404) 241-1221. Health Outreach will be will be the third straight year
held Saturday, May 7, 10 of a TCA-sponsored clean
a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Redan up at the field. For more
DUNWOODY Recreation Center, 1839
Phillips Road, Lithonia.
information, contact Evelyn
Burkett at district 4@
Comedian Gottfried to Miracle Mission Walk is a tuckercivic.org.
speak at MJCC 4K humanitarian walk-a-
thon featuring flags of 100
Comedian Gilbert Gott- nations. Proceeds will assist Arts fest to benefit Habitat
fried will speak about his AID Africa’s local outreach for Humanity
new book, Rubber Balls and programs. Internationally,
Liquor at the Marcus Jewish proceeds are for Kenya East Tucker Arts Fest for Habitat
Community Center’s “A Page Africa water well projects for Humanity will be held
from the Book Festival” on and medical supplies. Thursday, May 5, 5-8 p.m.
May 10 at 8 p.m. The event Registration for the walk, at Tucker High School,
will be presented in a con- which will be 10–11:30 a.m., 5036 LaVista Road, Tucker.
versation format with Dave is $5 per student and $10 Balloons and signs will direct
FM’s Jimmy Baron. A book per adult. The Community the way to the community
signing will immediately fol- Health Outreach, 11:30 event, which will include
low the talk. Tickets are $11 a.m. – 3 p.m., is free to the an art contest for the
for MJCC members and $16 public. It promotes first lady elementary, middle and high
for non-members. The book, Michelle Obama’s campaign school students; jazz from
which is part memoir, details to combat Childhood Obesity the school’s elementary,
how Gottfried ascended from and to impact Health middle and high school
open mike nights on the New Disparities. There will be ensembles; performances
York City comedy circuit in games, entertainment for all by the middle school chorus;
the 1970s. For tickets, con- ages and health screenings, local artists selling their
tact the MJCC box office at including testing for HIV/ creations; handmade and
(678) 812-4002 or visit www. AIDS. For more information, hand-decorated birdhouses;
atlantajcc.org. call (678) 357-2549 or e-mail and yard items. There also
aidafricacharity@gmail.com. will be a silent auction, food
and a children’s area with
Children’s bike rodeo to be a moonwalk, face-painting,
at Brook Run Park TUCKER crafts and more. Proceeds
benefit the THS Campus
Parents can bring their TCA to spruce up Chapter of Habitat for
children to Brook Run Park Fitzgerald Field Humanity.
in Dunwoody to have their bi-
cycle tuned and their safety Tucker Civic Association
equipment checked on May will host its May “Give An
sPoRts The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 Page 21A

Dunwoody boys win Region 6-AAAA track title

by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
The Dunwoody boys track team
followed their first county champi-
onship earlier this month by win-
ning the Region 6-AAAA title on
April 20.
James Dwyer won the 1,600
meters and the 3,200 to help the
Wildcats defeat second-place Tuck-
er 94.5-93.5. Dazel Clator finished
second in both the 100 and 200.
Tucker won the 4x400 relay and
Miles Harris claimed the Tigers’
only individual title by winning the
400.
Redan finished third with 91
points and had four individual
champions—Troy Howard, 110
hurdles; Jamar Sims, long jump;
Kedemah Howard, triple jump;
and Alex Dyer, discus. Redan also
won the 4x100 relay.
Southwest DeKalb placed fourth
with 77.5 points and had two indi-
vidual champions—Chris Morris,
300 hurdles; and Malcolm Brock,
high jump. Also, Antonio Carter
of Miller Grove won the 800 and
Nathan Daniel of Marist won the
pole vault.
Cedar Grove finished second
in the Region 5-AAA boys meet
that concluded April 20. Wood-
ward Academy won the meet with
116 points and the Saints had 84.
Cedar Grove won both the 4x100
and 4x400 relays, and had two in-
dividual champions. Greg Terrell
won the 100 and Lamar Terry won
the shot put.
St. Pius won four events to place
fourth overall. Brendan Hoban
won both the 1600 and 3200 meter
races and Nikita Kirilov won the
pole vault. Also, the Golden Lions
placed first in the 4x800 relay.
Other individual champions
from DeKalb schools were Tama-
ric Johnson, Stone Mountain, 200
and 400; Ronnin O’Quinn, Tow-
ers, 300 hurdles; Fred Scott, Stone
Mountain, long jump; Anthony
Loyd, Druid Hills, triple jump.
M.L. King won five individual
titles and a relay title to claim sec-
ond place in the Region 2-AAAAA
girls championship that ended April
25. Jada Martin won the 100 and
200 meters, Felicia Brown won
the 400 and Rodreka Chambliss
placed first in the 1600. Also, Jalisa
Terrell won the high jump and the
Lions finished first in the 4x100
relay.
Westlake won the girls meet
with a total of 153.5 points and
M.L. King was second with 134.
Stephenson placed fourth in the
eight-team event.
Stephenson placed fifth in the
2-AAAAA boys meet. M.L. King’s
B.J. Burney won the 110 hurdles
for 10 of the Lions’ 12 points in the
meet.

13 teams qualify for state soccer playoffs

by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com

A
year ago Gray LaRose
was a member of Dun-
woody’s junior varsity
soccer team while his po-
sition—goalkeeper—was filled by
two seniors who are now playing
college soccer.
Fast forward 12 months.
LaRose, a junior, is the top pub-
lic schools goalkeeper in DeKalb
County. He allowed only seven
goals through the first 11 games and
ended the regular season as the only
public school goalkeeper averaging
less than a goal allowed per game.
LaRose let in 13 goals in 15 games,
but four were on penalty kicks.
The defense of LaRose and the
offense of Facundo Gerdi have led
the Wildcats into the state playoffs
for the second time in the past two
seasons. Prior to 2009, the last time
the Wildcats qualified for state was
1997.
Dunwoody (12-3 and seeded
No. 3 in 6-AAAA) is one of 13
teams in DeKalb County to qualify
for the state playoffs, which began
April 26.
In addition to the Wildcats, the
third seed from Region 6-AAAA,
Marist, Lakeside and Tucker also
qualified in AAAA. Stephenson is
in the AAAAA tournament, St. Pius
made the AAA field, Cross Keys is
in AA and Padeia in Class A. On the
girls side Marist, Chamblee, Lake-
side and Dunwoody are participat- Dunwoody junior Gray LaRose was the top goalkeeper this season among DeKalb County public schools teams. Photo by Rob-
ert Naddra
ing in the AAAA tournament and
defending champion St. Pius again “It’s mostly about shot place- proved,” LaRose said. and have enjoyed great success,
made the AAA field. ment and power,” LaRose said. The St. Pius boys also head into other teams are entering the play-
Dunwoody coach Mike Flem- “Everything is faster on varsity but the playoffs with a strong presence offs after landmark seasons. The
ing has seen LaRose make big now I can judge how hard the shots in goal. Senior Andrew Wolverton, Stephenson boys and Chamblee
strides this season. are and where they’re going.” who started last season, has helped girls set school records for most
“He’s so strong with his hands Part of LaRose’s improvement the Golden Lions finish the regular wins.
and he’s always in the right place,” has been since he has switched club season 16-0-1. St. Pius has allowed The Dunwoody girls, who end-
Fleming said. “He’s fearless coming soccer teams and has a goalkeeper only nine goals this season. ed the season with a 9-0 win over
off the line.” coach available to him. While teams like St. Pius, Stone Mountain, finished the regu-
LaRose’s transition from JV to “I’m able to do drills with other Marist and the Cross Keys boys are lar season 11-5 for their most wins
varsity has been smooth. keepers and my technique has im- no strangers to the state playoffs since 1994.
 Page 22A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011
Baseball
in his
future?
Decision looming for
Stephenson standout
Stephenson senior Jordan Tarver leads the county in batting
average and home runs. Photo by Robert Naddra
by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
J
ordan Tarver figured he’d made his last
important decision regarding athletics in
February when he signed a football schol-
arship to Kent State University.
But that was before Tarver, a three-sport
standout at Stephenson and quarterback on the
football team, became the top hitter in the county
this season. And before Major League Baseball
scouts with the Philadelphia Phillies and New
York Mets made their way to Stone Mountain to
see him hit.
If he gets chosen in the MLB draft in June,
Tarver will have to decide whether to honor his
football scholarship or sign a pro
baseball contract. He chose Kent
State over several other football
offers, including Vanderbilt, Mi-
ami, Georgia Tech and Tulane.
If Tarver gets drafted but opts
for football, he will have to wait
until after his junior year in col-
lege to be eligible for the baseball
draft again.
Some sage advice from his
parents, Jeffrey and Lacretia
Tarver, has helped their son get
through his senior year with mini-
mal stress and confusion.
“My mom tells me every day Jordan Tarver
before I leave home to make good
decisions,” Tarver said. “I appreciate her for that.
My parents always tell me to stay focused, listen
to my elders and pray.”
Marco Jackson, Stephenson’s baseball
coach, also has had an impact on Tarver.
“He and I have developed a great relationship
because of this,” Tarver said. “Coach Jackson has
always told me to be prepared because you never
know who is watching. I feel like he is looking
Photos by Travis Hudgons
out for me.”
While Stephenson has strug-
gled with a 3-16 record, Tarver
entered the final week of the regu-
lar season as the top hitter in the
county with a batting average of
.564. He also leads the county with
eight home runs and is second with
33 RBIs.
He credits year-round participa-
tion in sports—Tarver also is the point guard on
the Jaguars’ basketball team—and participation
on a travel-league baseball team for his outstand-
ing. In addition his hitting prowess, Tarver pos-
sesses a strong arm on the mound and in the field.
“Strength training in football has helped me
in baseball,” Tarver said. “I run a lot during foot-
ball season and went to the [batting] cage in the
fall. I take every sport very seriously and always
www.championnewspaper.com
go 110 percent.”
Versatility also is a strength as Tarver plays
left field, catcher and third base along with being
the team’s best pitcher. He has a 3-5 record with a
3.79 earned run average.
“To me, I think the kid has a better future and
more potential in baseball than he does in foot-
ball,” Jackson said. “When you can hit a baseball
like he can and get paid, that’s something.”
Tarver has managed to take his parents’ ad-
vice and stay focused despite all the attention
during both the football and baseball seasons.
Tarver’s recruitment for football began during his
junior season and he has had to adjust to the at-
tention from college and pro baseball scouts this
spring.
In addition to his hitting, scouts have been
impressed with his pitching. Tarver has been
clocked at 93 mph.
“My mindset has always been the same,”
Tarver said. “Mentally, I knew I might as well get
used to the attention and I tried not to let it bother
me.
“The [baseball] scouts tell me they are look-
ing for five things—arm strength, speed, power,
hitting and defense—and I have four,” Tarver
said. “All I’m missing is speed.”
Jackson is hopeful Tarver’s ability and hard
work will lead him to a baseball career.
“I really do hope a team will take a good look
at him,” Jackson said. “He just wants the oppor-
tunity.”
Meanwhile, Tarver continues to take the en-
tire process in stride and lets his numbers do the
talking. He is hopeful to be taken in the first 10
rounds of the draft, but is content to see how the
next few months play out.
“My parents are with me no matter which
sport I end up playing,” Tarver said. “I just stay
positive and stay away from the streets. I keep
praying and I know God will always lead me to-
ward the right way.”
Page 23A
DeKalb High School Sports Highlights
BASEBALL
Marist: The War Eagles
ended the Region 6-AAAA
schedule undefeated after
an 8-0 win over second-
place Dunwoody on
April 20 and an 18-0 win
over Douglass on April
21. Brandon Liebrandt
pitched a two-hitter and
struck out nine against
Dunwoody to improve to
7-0. Brett Dolan led the
offense with three hits,
while Chesny Young and
Georges Durot each had
two hits. One of Young’s
hits was his third home
run of the season. The
War Eagles held Douglass
without a hit in the three-
inning game.
Dunwoody: The Wildcats
solidified their No. 2 seed
from Region 6-AAAA by
going 3-1 through April
23. Logan Elliott pitched a
complete-game shutout in
a 10-0 win over Southwest
DeKalb. He struck out
seven and allowed three
hits. Cam Young had two
hits and an RBI while
Wes Bancroft and Jared
Martin each had two RBIs.
In a 9-1 win over Redan,
Zach Tonner had three
RBIs while Jerric Johnson
and Bancroft each had
two RBIs. Young drove
in three runs and James
Cunningham had two
RBIs in a 15-0 win over
Carver Atlanta. Also, Adam
Julian and Ryan Gaines
each hit home runs. The
Wildcats also lost to Marist
8-0.
Miller Grove: Uwem
Udofia hit a two-run home
run with two outs in the
bottom of the seventh
inning to lift the Wolverines
to a 6-5 win over Lakeside
to keep their state playoff
hopes alive. The Wolverines
faced Redan on April 27
with the winner claiming
the No. 4 seed from Region
6-AAAA. Jabari Gayle
led the Wolverines with
four hits and four RBIs in
a 16-6 win over Lithonia.
Miller Grove also lost to
Chamblee 4-1.
Redan: The Raiders kept
their state playoff hopes
alive with a 6-5 win over
Southwest DeKalb on April
25. Trailing 5-4 going to
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 www.championnewspaper.com
the bottom of the seventh Gerdi and Ian Angstadt
inning, Rock Rucker each scored one goal in a
hit a solo home run to tie 3-2 loss to Stone Mountain
the game. The Raiders to end the regular season.
then loaded the bases and The Wildcats finished
Akil Dan-Fodio was hit 12-3 and opened the Class
by a pitch to drive in the AAAA state playoffs on
winning run. The Raiders April 27.
also beat Mays 14-1 on Dunwoody: Valerie Rossi,
April 22. Mason Davis
had two hits, including a GIRLS SOCCER
home run, and four RBIs to
lead the offense. Deandre Becka Kilbourne, Avery
Daffin was the winning Wood and Yamila Castro
pitcher. each scored two goals
in the Wildcats’ 9-0 win
Lakeside: The Vikings over Stone Mountain in
went 0-3 in games from the regular-season finale.
April 20 to April 25 and The Wildcats finished the
will miss the Class AAAA regular season 11-2 and
state playoffs. Jimmy Dilz faced Flowery Branch in
drove in three runs and the first round of the Class
Jonathan Whittington had AAAA state playoffs on
two RBIs in a 14-6 loss to April 26.
Redan. Langston Williams
had three hits in a 6-5 loss
to Southwest DeKalb and
Dorsey Gibson had three Chamblee, sparked by the pitching of Joe Albertson, top photo, defeated Miller Grove 4-1 on April
22. There was plenty of action on the basepaths as Miller Grove's Fentress Henderson, middle photo,
hits in a 6-5 loss to Miller dives to tag out a Chamblee runner at third base. Earlier, Henderson was tagged out by Chamblee's
Grove. Will Bracewell had Kyle Kimbrel at third. Photos by Bruce James
two hits in the loss.
M.L. King: Brandon
Sharpe had two hits and three
RBIs while Cedric Daniel
and Michael Birdsong each
had two hits and one RBI in
an 11-7 win over East Coweta
on April 19.
Tucker: Larry McCall
went 4-for-4 with three runs
scored and three RBIs in
the Tigers’ 15-1 win over
Lithonia on April 22.
Southwest DeKalb:
Malcolm Moore and
Moses Charles each had
two hits as the Panthers
rallied for a 6-5 win over
Lakeside.
BOYS SOCCER
Stephenson: Lance Perry
scored both goals as the
Jaguars closed out the
regular season at 13-3-1
after a 2-1 win over Redan.
The Raiders played at North
Cobb on April 27 in the first
round of the Class AAAAA
state tournament.
Tucker: The Tigers ended
the regular season with
a 2-0 loss to Class AA
state-ranked Cross Keys.
The Tigers, the No. 4 seed
from Region 6-AAAA,
face Habersham Central in
the first round of the state
tournament on April 27.
Dunwoody: Facundo
Page 24A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 29, 2011 www.championnewspaper.com

Host Your Family Reunion

VisitAtlantasDeKalbCounty.com
in DeKalb County!
Learn about the free ser vices offered by DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Our Free Planning Workshops will teach you everything you need to
Deon Hall, Alabama A&M (baseball): organize the perfect family reunion.
The junior outfielder from M.L.
King hit a two-run home run in the
bottom of the ninth inning to give the Free May Reunion
Bulldogs a 7-6 win over Mississippi Planning Workshop
Valley State on April 17. Hall had two
hits, two RBIs and scored two runs
(Saturday - 9 am to Noon)
in the game. He finished the three-
game series by going 4-for-9 with
May 14, 2011
four RBIs. Courtyard Atlanta Executive Park/Emory
Joanna Atkins, Auburn (track): The 1236 Executive Park Drive, Atlanta, GA
senior from Stephenson was second
overall and the first college runner in Workshops are free, but pre-registration
the 400 meters April 16 at the War is required.
Eagle Invitational. Her time of 52.61
was the fourth-fastest NCAA time in
the 400 this season. She also was Call (770) 492-5050 ext. 1811
part of Auburn’s winning 4x100 and
4x400 meter relay teams.

Chris Epps, Clemson (baseball):

The senior outfielder from Dunwoody
went 3-for-8 with two RBIs as the
Tigers swept a three-game series
with Boston College April 15-16. On
the season Epps is batting .261 with
22 RBIs and is tied for the team-lead
RECYCLE
with five home runs. THIS NEWSPAPER